Arsenal's Carabao Cup hopes rocked as Newcastle extend winning run - 5 talking points

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Arsenal's Carabao Cup hopes rocked as Newcastle extend winning run - 5 talking points
Author: mirrornews@mirror.co.uk (Nathan Ridley)
Published: Jan, 07 2025 21:53

Arsenal have a mountain to climb after they failed to make home advantage count and were beaten 2-0 by in-form Newcastle in their Carabao Cup semi-final first leg. Alexander Isak scored his 10th goal in nine games as Newcastle extended their remarkable winning run to seven on the trot. Anthony Gordon also came up with a goal to leave Mikel Arteta and Co. with a huge task in the second leg at St James' Park.

The Gunners looked lethargic and lost on home soil for the first time since last April, seemingly feeling a hangover from Saturday's deflating 1-1 draw at Brighton which dented their already thin Premier League title hopes. Newcastle, on the other hand, can't stop winning and claimed their second victory in north London in the space of four days, with a trip to Wembley now tantalisingly close.

Here are five talking points from the Emirates. It's not often a player starts for their club when they're on the verge of leaving. But for Martin Dubravka, it was business as usual. The Newcastle goalkeeper is reportedly close to joining Saudi Arabian side Al-Shabab, with GiveMeSport breaking the news just over three hours before kick-off.

Dubravka, though, was named in the starting line-up, still deputising for the injured Nick Pope. The Slovakian has been excellent since replacing Pope and played a key role in their recent resurgence, so Eddie Howe could try and keep him. Dubravka was tested early in the match, making a series of interventions as Newcastle settled into the game.

Minutes after Gabriel Martinelli rattled the post with what proved to be Arsenal's clearest chance of the first half, Newcastle scored a goal out of nothing thanks to a proper finisher. The Magpies had enjoyed an early spell of pressure with tricky play, but it was the direct approach that worked for Eddie Howe's men.

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