Mikel Arteta's four-word reaction as Arsenal must overcome history to down Newcastle
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Mikel Arteta challenged his Arsenal team to overcome history when they face Newcastle in the second-leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final. The Gunners were beaten 2-0 on Tuesday night as the Magpies secured an impressive victory on the road. Alexander Isak scored in the first-half before Anthony Gordon doubled their lead to put them in pole position with the return game to come at the start of February.
Arsenal have been beaten at Newcastle in each of the past two seasons and the history books don't work in their favour. No team in the Carabao Cup has ever lost the first-leg at home by two goals and gone on to make the final. That stat was put to Arteta, who seemed defiant his team could buck the trend. He said: "Let's do it then".
Arsenal haven't picked up a major trophy since 2020 and Arteta is under pressure to deliver some silverware, especially given the investment he's been allowed to make into the playing group. The Gunners dominated the stats in north London, but couldn't find a way through Newcastle.
Arteta said: "It’s the result. If you look at what both teams produced and the domination of the game, it’s not a result that reflects the story of the game. But the reality is that they were super efficient with the chances that they had and we weren’t, and at this level in these kind of scenarios, you need to impose yourself and win the game.".
