Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle: Gunners need Carabao Cup semi-final fightback after rare home defeat
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Arsenal suffered their first home defeat of the season as their Wembley hopes were left hanging by a thread following a 2-0 win for Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-finals. The Gunners had not been beaten at the Emirates Stadium since being stunned by Aston Villa last April, but were notably below par in Tuesday night’s huge tie as goals either side of half-time from the red-hot Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon secured a seventh consecutive win across all competitions for the soaring Magpies.
It leaves Mikel Arteta’s side with a huge challenge ahead to overturn the deficit when the two sides meet again for the all-important second-leg clash at St James’ Park - where Arsenal have already lost in the Premier League this season - on February 5.
Arsenal made five changes from the side who dropped more points in the title race with a frustrating 1-1 draw away at Brighton on Saturday evening, Kai Havertz fit to return and lead the attack after missing the last two games through illness as Gabriel Jesus dropped to the bench.
Jurrien Timber returned from suspension and Myles Lewis-Skelly was preferred to Riccardo Calafiori on the opposite side of defence, while captain Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli were both fit to start as Raheem Sterling also returned from injury to earn a place on the bench.
Newcastle, meanwhile, made just one change to the side that beat Tottenham down the road in the top-flight at the weekend, with the suspended Bruno Guimaraes replaced by former Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock as Sven Botman was deemed fit to deputise for the banned Fabian Schar again in defence despite an uncomfortable end to his first appearance for nine months following a serious ACL injury.
