Arsenal have a huge job on their hands tonight as they take on Newcastle United in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. A trip to Wembley to take on either Tottenham or Liverpool is in sight for both sides, though Newcastle are firmly in the driving seat as we count down to kick-off. Mikel Arteta’s side suffered to a 2-0 defeat in the first contest at the Emirates in early January but the form book makes for very different reading this week.

After a superb run over Christmas and New Year, Eddie Howe’s Magpies have been brought back down to earth by back-to-back defeats in consecutive home games against Bournemouth and Fulham. The Gunners, meanwhile, will be buoyed by their resounding 5-1 victory over Premier League champions Manchester City at the weekend, a real statement of intent ahead of a crucial period of the season. 42 mins: Havertz is shown the first yellow card of the game.

The German puts a shoulder in on Guimaraes and referee Hooper is left with no other option. 40 mins: Nwaneri makes an instant impact, powering down the right flank just moments after replacing Martinelli. But the 17-year-old’s cross is a wild one and sails high and wide over Dubravka’s goal. 36 mins: Serious concern for the Gunners, with Martinelli down in a heap on the turf and clutching his hamstring.

Teenage sensation Nwaneri comes on for the Brazilian. 31 mins: Arsenal defender Gabriel throws out an arm at Trippier after a coming together on the right flank. Neither player is punished. Sensible refereeing from Simon Hooper. 27 mins: There’s an incredible tempo to the contest, with both sets of players rising to the occasion. Arsenal simply must find the next goal, though, and they’re beginning to string some passes together.

23 mins: Dubravka gets down brilliantly to keep out a low first-time effort from Arsenal captain Odegaard inside the box. Newcastle scramble the ball behind for a corner. 19 mins: Wow, wow, wow. Murphy puts the ball in the back of the net for his fifth goal of the season – and this time it will count. Isak stretches his legs and fires a wicked strike against the post which falls straight into the path of an onrushing Murphy, who slots into an empty goal.

St James’ Park is ROCKING. How on earth do Arsenal recover from this?. 18 mins: First big chance for Arsenal but Newcastle defender Botman – recalled to Howe’s starting XI this evening – is equal to Odegaard’s strike on the edge of the box. A first real warning from the Gunners. 17 mins: Arteta cuts a frustrated figure on the touchline, frantically waving his arms in all directions. Fair to say his side have not picked up where they left off after their second-half heroics against Manchester City at the weekend.

15 mins: Newcastle’s tails are up, with Arsenal struggling to get out of their own half in the opening 15 minutes. The visitors need to regroup and find their composure. Isak’s strike is chalked off after a lengthy wait for the officials to make up their minds. Replays show that the Newcastle striker was in an offside position when played through by Gordon, much to the relief of Arsenal’s travelling support.

The noise is deafening inside the stadium. Can the Magpies capitalise on this early period of momentum?. 4 mins: It’s that man Isak… because of course it is. Newcastle deliver a hammer blow to their visitors’ hopes, but is the Swede offside from Gordon’s searching through ball…?. It’s very, very close. 2 mins: Martinelli escapes an early booking for a cynical foul on Murphy down the left flank.

The Arsenal winger is perhaps fortunate to go unpunished there. A loud roar echoes around St James’ Park. We’re up and running!. What an incredible atmosphere. Goosebumps stuff. On his decision to go unchanged, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports: ‘It’s the call that we made and the way we want to start the match. ‘It’s going to be a long match, there is a lot to play for. The context is very special as well so we decided to go with the same team.’.

The Spaniard added: ‘The first goal is going to be important. ‘If we score first it’s going to play on their minds so there are a lot of things to manage for both teams.’. Eddie Howe is hoping his players are not overawed by the occasion and simply play their own way in front of their expectant fans. ‘I’m looking forward to the game and hoping we show everyone just how much we want to win the game,’ the Newcastle head coach told Sky Sports.

‘We have to play our way, we don’t know any other way. We can’t change. ‘The players need to play the game with emotion but not too much. We need to get the crowd involved. The attitude has to be right and the intention has to be right. We have to be brave.’. Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast ahead of the second leg, Alan Shearer called on Eddie Howe’s players to forget the Fulham game and go and ‘grab’ a place in the final.