Newcastle United reached a second Carabao Cup Cup final in three seasons as they overwhelmed Arsenal 2-0 at a feverish St James' Park on Wednesday to complete a crushing 4-0 aggregate win over the two-legged semi-final.
Moments after Arsenal's Martin Odegaard wasted a chance to halve the deficit, Jacob Murphy tucked away a rebound in the 19th minute after Alexander Isak's shot hit the woodwork.
Arsenal, surprisingly beaten 2-0 at home in the first leg, suffered another off-night and their fate was sealed when Anthony Gordon punished a defensive error in the 52nd minute to put the hosts in cruise control.
Newcastle, who have not won a major trophy since 1955, will play either Liverpool or Tottenham in the Wembley final next month when they hope to go one better than 2023 when they lost in the final to Manchester United. Tottenham hold a 1-0 lead ahead of Thursday's second leg at Anfield.
Newcastle vs Arsenal latest updates
- GOAL! Gordon seals Wembley spot
- GOAL! Murphy slots home after Isak hits post
- NO GOAL! Early Isak strike ruled out
Full-time!
22:06 , Alex Young95min: Newcastle are going to Wembley!
92min: Hall has just nut-megged Calafiori. They are loving life out there tonight.
91min: Guimaraes goes off, Miley is on.
90min: Four minutes added on.
86min: Rice has lost his head. He first barges Tonali over and then goes in really late on Guimares.
No booking, but seen them given.
83min: Sterling into the book. His only contribution so far.
81min: Havertz goes down in the area looking for a penalty for a foul by Burn, but in fact he’s fouled the Newcastle player.
80min: First changes for Newcastle as Murphy and Botman replaced by Willock and Krafth.
79min: Rice sends a corner straight out of play. Sums up his game.
78min: Jorginho and Calafiori replace Partey and Timber.
76min: Havertz with another tame effort which barely reaches Dubravka. Jorgingo is being readied.
73min: Nwaneri with a tame effort on target for Dubravka to gobble up.
70min: Dubravka again needing treatment on the sidelines.
67min: It’s games like this which lay bare Arsenal’s need for a striker. No penetration, no ideas.
Oh, how good Isak would be in their team.
Simon Collings at St James' Park
21:27 , Alex YoungNewcastle fans: "It must be the ball, it must be the ball, Mikel Arteta, it must be the ball."
64min: Newcastle continue to do a job on Arsenal as Gordon races down the wing only to cut back and find a team-mate.
So comfortable.
61min: Merino and Sterling are on.
Simon Collings at St James' Park
21:21 , Alex YoungDamage limitation from Arsenal now and a case of getting no more injuries. The tie is dead, so wisely Odegaard and Trossard come off.
59min: Havertz is screaming for a foul by Hall as he tries to wriggle into the area, but there’s nothing doing. If anything it’s a foul by Havertz.
Arsenal have been their own worse enemies tonight.
58min: Partey avoids a booking for a challenge on Tonali.
54min: Never seen Saliba so rattled.
Simon Collings at St James' Park
21:14 , Alex YoungNewcastle fans singing that they're off to Wembley. They certainly are now. Shambles from Arsenal at the back.
GOAL!
21:13 , Alex Young51min: That’s that!
Gordon sends Newcastle to Wembley after Raya gives the ball away and gifts a simple finish into an empty net.
Simon Collings at St James' Park
21:12 , Alex YoungTrying to think of the last time Gabriel and Saliba were given the run around like this...probably the first leg last month. All at sea again this half.
49min: Gordon had to score!
Saliba gets pickpocketed near the halfway line and Gordon looks up and tries to lob Raya, who is 30 yards from goal, but his shot flies wide.
He should have run down on goal.
48min: Trossard is going to try to walk it off.
47min: Guimares straight into the book for a very late tackle Trossard.
He looks in some pain.
Second half
21:06 , Alex Young46min: Back underway!
Does Arteta change anything for the second half?
Arsenal not only have three goals to score in 45 minutes, but also have to beat Newcastle’s game-management.
That’s the technical term for, well, you know.
An early Arsenal goal would be really interesting.
All the talk before the game was about how Newcastle will cope with Arsenal's intensity.
What intensity? Newcastle have one foot in the final.
Half-time!
20:51 , Alex Young51min: A dream first half for the hosts.
46min: Gordon skips past Rice, cuts inside and curls a shot just wide of the far post.
45min: Five minutes added on.
44min: Now Saliba is booked for dragging back Gordon.
Arsenal cannot handle Newcastle at the moment.
42min: Havertz booked for such a needless foul near the Newcastle penalty area.
Newcastle fans enjoying that, and so did the lurking Trippier.
40min: Nwaneri’s first involvement is to get to the byline but sends a cross out of play.
Arsenal have been really wasteful.
38min: Nwaneri is on. Martinelli looked in a lot a discomfort but was able to walk off the pitch.
37min: Nwaneri is being prepped.
36min: Martinelli appears to have tweaked something. He’s signalling to come off.
35min: Saliba does not know how to handle Isak, can’t handle Isak.
Again the Newcastle man wins the tussle with the Arsenal defender before finding a team-mate.
33min: Joelinton is in the stands with a huge smile on his face.
Only a historic collapse will prevent Newcastle from reaching the Carabao Cup final.
31min: Trippier squares up to Gabriel after the Arsenal defender takes a tumble under pressure from Murphy.
The former Tottenham defender looking for a reaction.
27min: Concern over Dubravka, who appears to tweak something when Trippier made that clearance.
He’s soldiering on for now.
Simon Collings at St James' Park
20:26 , Alex YoungFine margins there. Odegaard hits the post, then Isak does - but Murphy scores the rebound. A hammer blow for Arsenal.
24min: Odegaard’s corner almost flies straight in but Trippier is on hand - or head - to clear under the crossbar.
23min: Dubravka denies Trossard with a really smart save to his right after Newcastle lose the ball on the edge of their area.
Arsenal need to take their chances.
22min: Saliba now needed to track back to stop Gordon cutting inside.
This is some game. Thrilling.
GOAL!
20:22 , Alex Young20min: THIS ONE COUNTS!
Murphy slots home the rebound after Isak almost cracks the post in half.
A long, long way back for Arsenal now.
18min: Two changes in quick succession from Odegaard, the first blocked and the second flicked off the outside of the post.
End to end.
15min: A lovely move by Botman to take Havertz out of the game and start an attack.
Newcastle far more front-footed than expected in these early stages.
Offside decision
20:15 , Alex YoungHere’s how tight that Isak offside was.
#NEWARS – 4’ VAR OVERTURN
— EFL Communications (@EFL_Comms) February 5, 2025
Isak’s goal was initially awarded on-field. VAR checked and determined that he was in an offside position and recommended that the goal was disallowed.
#EFL | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/gWrOnbNRpY
Simon Collings at St James' Park
20:14 , Alex YoungNewcastle's press has been pretty relentless in the early stages here. Dan Burn up right near Arsenal's penalty area chasing players down.
12min: Raya shanks a clearance right to Gordon, who tries to collect the bouncing ball but somehow fouls Gabriel in the meantime.
Reader, it wasn’t a foul.
11min: The pace of the game has dropped somewhat since that disallowed goal. Both teams need looking get a foothold. Lots of niggly fouls.
8min: “Same old Arsenal, always cheating” rings around the stadium.
Not sure Arsenal had anything to do with Isak being offside, to be fair.
NO GOAL!
20:07 , Alex Young4min: Isak think he has given his team the perfect start, but he’s inches offside.
Gutting for the home fans.
2min: Rice takes the corner, plays it short to Martinelli who loses the ball and the loses his man.
He chases Murphy all the way up the pitch and fouls him, but the referee doesn’t give a yellow.
Looked like a clear booking.
2min: Gordon gives away a free kick after just 12 seconds, for a foul on Havertz.
It’s about 30 yards out, Rice whips it in but Isak heads out for a corner.
KICK-OFF
20:01 , Alex Young1min: Here we go!
Here come the players.
Kick-off is in five minutes. St James’ Park is absolutely rocking.
This is really, really, really good stuff.
We are honoured to have Cheick Tioté's son, Rafael as one of our mascots for tonight's game.
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) February 5, 2025
Once a Geordie, always a Geordie. 🖤🤍 pic.twitter.com/GegjTc4cMI
Simon Collings at St James Park
19:47 , Alex YoungIt is absolutely rammed in here and the noise is deafening. Kick-off is still 15 minutes away. Think the home fans are up for this.
Sky Sports now reporting that Newcastle are warming up as four at the back.
That could see Burn at left-back and Hall in midfield, replacing Joelinton.
It’s interesting how Newcastle have gone so defensive. They are not only looking to protect their advantage but with the height of Joelinton missing, they are also looking to avoid conceding from set-pieces.
You fear such a defensive approach will make an already nervous home fanbase even more so.
We shall see. Kick-off is in just over 20 minutes.
Here’s what they will all be playing for in a month’s time at Wembley.
Simon Collings checks in
19:15 , Alex YoungOur man is in position at SJP...
💪 "For Arsenal, there's nothing to lose and everything to gain."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) February 5, 2025
So much has happened since the first leg. Newcastle have gone from dead certs to reach Wembley to big doubts they can get over the line.
Here's @sr_collings.#NEWARS | #CarabaoCup pic.twitter.com/6kDDnT7lR2
Arsenal - as expected - are unchanged as Mikel sticks with the team which thumped Manchester City.
Newcastle are without Joelinton and go five at the back. It could be a long night for them.
Confirmed team news
19:04 , Alex YoungNewcastle XI: Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
Subs: Pope, Livramento, Targett, Krafth, Longstaff, Willock, Miley, Wilson, Osula
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard
Subs: Setford, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Calafiori, Tierney, Jorginho, Merino, Sterling, Nwaneri
Newcastle XI
19:01 , Alex YoungFive at the back!
HOWAY THE LADS! ✊ pic.twitter.com/xW2OJnDbdN
— Newcastle United (@NUFC) February 5, 2025
Arsenal XI
19:00 , Alex YoungHere are the Gunners.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 5, 2025
Unchanged from Sunday's triumph.
Let's turn this around, Gunners 👊
It sounds like, as expected, Arsenal will be unchanged tonight from the win over Manchester City.
Newcastle are going defensive.
Lineups to be revealed an hour before kick-off, at 7pm, rather than the 15 minutes earlier we see in the Premier League.
A peek inside the Arsenal dressing room.
Confirmed teams are not far off.
Arsenal could be unchanged
18:15 , Alex YoungArsenal could name an unchanged team tonight.
Mikel Arteta has a number of selection dilemmas, though, most notably in attack as Ethan Nwaneri is ready to start after coming off the bench against Manchester City to score Arsenal’s fifth goal.
Mikel Merino is also fit, but the midfield trio of Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Thomas Partey should remain.
It’s a cold one on Tyneside.
Joelinton a doubt
17:57 , Alex YoungA wounded Newcastle will attempt to avoid a hat-trick of home losses tonight, a feat they may have to do without key midfielder Joelinton.
The Brazilian emerged from the Fulham game wearing a brace on his right knee.
Eddie Howe said on Tuesday: "We'll assess how he is for this game. I'd say he's a doubt, but we'll give him every minute we can to try to make him fit."
If the Magpies faltered at the weekend - they have nevertheless won 10 of their last 12 games in all competitions - the Gunners were in stunning form as they romped to a 5-1 home victory over champions Manchester City to fire a warning.
But Howe, who could also have striker Callum Wilson available after a 12-game absence, said: "What a great opportunity we've got - and that's if it's 0-0 - so forget any talk of a lead, it's 0-0 and we are at home.
"What an opportunity to attack the game and embrace everything in front of us to be at our best."
How to watch Newcastle vs Arsenal
17:41 , Alex YoungTV channel: The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.
Coverage starts at 7pm GMT ahead of an 8pm kick-off.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Sky Go app.
Scene is set
17:30 , Alex YoungWe are about two and a half hours from kick-off at St James’ Park.
It’s the Magpies who sit in pole position, taking a 2-0 lead into the match at St. James’ Park, and they are the firm favourites to book their place at Wembley.
Arsenal have renewed confidence, though, after they hammered Manchester City 5-1 on Sunday.
Kick-off is at 8pm. Stick with us.
Score prediction
17:00 , Alex YoungThis is a tough one.
Three weeks ago, I would have comfortably predicted a tense but ultimately fairly routine path to the final for Newcastle. Surely 2-0 is too big of a first-leg deficit for Arsenal to overcome, especially away from home.
But, since then, Newcastle have lost back-to-back home games - conceding six times - and Arsenal have thumped Manchester City and have rarely looked more confident. Can the form be ignored?
Perhaps. Newcastle likely missing Joelinton is huge, but this Arsenal team can be got at and will open themselves up to counterattacks against players such as Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak. It’s going to be a nervy one, still, for both teams but I think Arsenal will just fall short.
Arsenal 2-1 Newcastle (agg. 2-3)
Latest team news
16:20 , Alex YoungThe countdown is firmly on ahead of the game.
The latest team news leaks suggest Joelinton will miss out tonight for Newcastle through injury.
That is a huge blow for the hosts.
Mikel Arteta expects clarity soon over new Arsenal sporting director
14:15 , Jonathan GorrieMikel Arteta expects a decision over Arsenal’s new sporting director to be reached “relatively quickly”.
Edu resigned as Arsenal’s sporting director in November to take up a role working for Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis’ stable of clubs.
Mikel Arteta backs 'genetic powerhouse' Kai Havertz to play key role after transfer failure
11:56 , Jonathan GorrieGiven the amount of minutes Kai Havertz will have to get through between now until the end of the season, it is just as well Mikel Arteta views him as a “genetic powerhouse”.
Arsenal’s failure to sign a new forward in the January transfer window means Havertz is their only fit recognised striker, with Gabriel Jesus out for the rest of season due to a knee injury.
Three reasons why Arsenal can turn around Carabao Cup semi-final against Newcastle
10:51 , Jonathan GorrieArsenal have a mountain to climb when they play Newcastle in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at St. James’ Park on Wednesday.
The Gunners are 2-0 down from the first leg and history is not on their side.
In the 32 instances of a side losing the first leg of a League Cup semi-final by a margin of two or more goals, only once have they progressed
Mikel Arteta explains why Ethan Nwaneri is not allowed in senior dressing room
07:56 , Jonathan GorrieMikel Arteta has revealed how safeguarding rules mean Ethan Nwaneri has to get ready in a different dressing room to his Arsenal team-mates on match days.
Nwaneri has broken into Arsenal’s first team this season and the 17-year-old scored his seventh goal of the campaign on Sunday during a 5-1 victory over Manchester City.
Arteta confirms Dubai training camp after semi-final
Tuesday 4 February 2025 23:00 , Alex YoungMikel Arteta has confirmed Arsenal are heading to Dubai this week for a warm-weather training camp.
The Gunners are planning to head out to the Middle East on Thursday, the day after their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Newcastle.
Arsenal are not in action after that until a week on Saturday, so they are using the chance to go away for some warm-weather training.
The club are heading to Dubai, which is where they went in January last season and that had a huge impact on the squad.
Arsenal went on to win 16 of their final 18 Premier League games, only surrendering the title to Manchester City on the final day of the season.
“I think it’s coming, yes,” said Arteta, when asked if Arsenal are off to Dubai.
Early Arsenal team news
Tuesday 4 February 2025 20:00 , Alex YoungArsenal boss Mikel Arteta could name an unchanged team tomorrow night.
Arteta is able to stick with the same side that beat Manchester City at the weekend as Arsenal have picked up no fresh injuries from that game.
The Spaniard has a number of selection dilemmas, though, most notably in attack. Ethan Nwaneri came off the bench against Manchester City and was impressive, scoring Arsenal’s fifth goal.
The 17-year-old has scored seven goals this season and three of those have come in the Carabao Cup.
“The only thing that I want with him is that he continues to do what he’s doing and play with that freedom, with that tenacity when he’s on the pitch and with that confidence,” said Arteta.
“Because he’s got the ability to make it happen and whether he does that or not, it will be a matter of time.”
Arsenal predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard
Ben White will miss Newcastle clash
Tuesday 4 February 2025 18:00 , Alex YoungArsenal hope Ben White will be back in action after their warm-weather training camp in Dubai.
White has been out since November after undergoing surgery to resolve a knee injury.
The right-back has been stepping up his recovery over the past few weeks, but is not quite fit enough to return for Wednesday’s Carabao Cup semi-final second leg at Newcastle.
White should be back for Arsenal’s next match after that, though, which is at Leicester on February 15.
“Ben is still out hopefully after the break he will be available,” said Arteta.
Arteta 'disappointed' by Arsenal failure to sign a striker a January
Tuesday 4 February 2025 15:09 , Alex YoungMikel Arteta has admitted Arsenal are “disappointed” by their failure to sign a striker in January.
The Gunners wanted to bring in a new forward but failed in a move for Ollie Watkins and ultimately did not get anyone in.
Speaking on Tuesday, Arteta said: "We had a clear intention. We haven't achieved it. So we are disappointed.
“But we are aware that we only want to bring certain types of players, so we have to be disciplined."
Arsenal made a bid for Watkins but Aston Villa chose to sell Jhon Duran to Al Nassr instead.
Mikel Arteta coming up!
Tuesday 4 February 2025 13:36 , Matt VerriThe Arsenal boss will be giving his press conference ahead of the trip to Newcastle very shortly.
That’s expected to get underway in about 25 minutes at 2pm GMT.
Arteta will provide the latest injury news from the Arsenal camp and look ahead to a night that requires something special from his side.
How to watch Newcastle vs Arsenal
Tuesday 4 February 2025 12:40 , Matt VerriTV channel: The game will be broadcast on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Ultra HDR.
Coverage starts at 7pm GMT on Wednesday night ahead of an 8pm kick-off.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Sky Go app.
LIVE coverage: Follow all the action right here with us, featuring expert analysis from Simon Collings at St. James’ Park.
Early Newcastle team news
Tuesday 4 February 2025 11:13 , Matt VerriNewcastle midfielder Joelinton is a doubt for tomorrow night’s second leg.
Joelinton was forced off during Saturday’s defeat to Fulham with a knee injury and was later spotted in a knee brace.
Newcastle are currently assessing the Brazilian and they are yet to rule him out of the clash with Arsenal.
“Joey had a knee brace on as a precaution,” said Eddie Howe. “I would say he is a doubt, but we will give him every chance to be fit.
“Our centre midfield, we have good strength in depth - Sean Longstaff, Lewis Miley and Joe Willock – they all bring something different.”
Newcastle could welcome back Callum Wilson to the squad, though, for the first time since December.
The striker has been out with a hamstring injury, but he is close to finally making a comeback.
Good morning!
Tuesday 4 February 2025 10:27 , Matt VerriHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Wednesday night’s huge Carabao Cup second leg between Newcastle and Arsenal.
It’s the Magpies who sit in pole position, taking a 2-0 lead into the match at St. James’ Park, and they are the firm favourites to book their place at Wembley.
Arsenal have renewed confidence, though, after they hammered Manchester City 5-1 on Sunday.
Stick with us all for the latest team news and press conference updates, as we build up to a massive night in Newcastle.
Kick-off is at 8pm tomorrow night at St. James’ Park.
