Isak and Gordon give Newcastle big Carabao Cup semi-final lead over Arsenal
TOON-NIL: Newcastle's Alexander Isak, right, celebrates after scoring the opening goal. Pic: AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth.
Carabao Cup
Eddie Howe and his Newcastle side are only 90 minutes away from a return to Wembley in the Carabao Cup final.
Arsenal’s only chance of coming away from St James’ Park with any joy from next month’s second leg might be to get the club chequebook out and buy Newcastle striker Aleksander Isak.
Arsenal had not lost at home since last April and their fans left the stadium in huge numbers well before the end.
Howe has got Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta’s number but it was the Swedish forward who was the difference between these two sides for the second time this season.
He scored one and made another to show Arteta just what his side is missing in terms of winning and losing big matches.
If Arsenal fill that cheque in for €150million, or even more, it will be money well spent. An obscene sum for a footballer, in these or any other times, but this is the rarefied world these people operate in.
Arsenal are one of the few clubs with the financial clout to make the impossible possible. Whether or not that includes overturning this first-leg defeat at the start of February is another matter. The scoreline slightly flatters Newcastle, but the result is all that matters.
The Geordies lost the final of this competition to Manchester United two years ago and it now seems more than likely they will have an excellent chance of going all the way this time.
Isak broke the deadlock in a pulsating end-to-end semi-final tie eight minutes before half-time and made Newcastle’s second for Anthony Gordon six minutes after the break. Arsenal’s ‘best defence in the country’ quivered in fear every time he was on the ball.
Arteta’s side had their chances but lacked the bite in front of goal that Isak gives Newcastle. He came into this game with nine Premier League goals to his name since the beginning of December and played with the confidence to match his numbers.
The cracking atmosphere, aided by a huge contingent of exuberant Newcastle fans taking over the Arsenal Clock End, on a crisp wintry night had both teams at it from the start. Arsenal, as watchers have grown accustomed to, were causing havoc from set pieces early on too.
One such incident after nine minutes led to a barrage of shots firing in and around the Newcastle goal as Howe’s team struggled to clear the danger beyond the edge of their penalty area.
A Declan Rice inswinger moments later could and should have been headed in by defender Jurrien Timber.
Isak seemed to have the measure of William Saliba and created a couple of dangerous moments that had the Arsenal fans gasping in horror.
The spectators were on their feet again, emotions mangled, as Gabriel Martinelli burst clear after 30 minutes.Â
He held off a challenge to let fly from 20 yards and his shot thudded full against Martin Dubravka’s left hand post. It was a great strike, but maybe the Brazilian could have shot across the Newcastle goal to find the back of the net.
Martinelli has only been well enough to be named as a sub for Saturday night’s draw away to Brighton, but was one of five changes made by Arteta as both sides went as strong as possible with their line-ups.
As well as Martinelli and Timber’s return from suspension, captain Martin Odegaard was also fit enough to start with Kai Havertz and Myles Lewis-Skelly also in the five changes from the weekend.
Former Arsenal midfielder Joe Willock was the only change from the Newcastle side that won at Tottenham on Saturday.
The opening goal came when Dubravka hoofed a free kick from deep inside the Newcastle half for Jacob Murphy to nudge into the path of Isak, who lifted a sweet shot in against the underside of the crossbar. A smart finish but not so clever defending by Arsenal to fail to clear the danger.
Their best chance to level before half-time came from defender Gabriel, but keeper Dubravka did superbly to block his close-range shot. Arsenal had created chances and had a lot of the ball, but lacked a killer touch and instinct.
Newcastle are one of the Premier League’s in-form teams, on a six-match winning run, but were still there for the taking.
They conceded 14 shots to Arsenal in the first half and despite playing well can still consider themselves fortunate to be in front.
Newcastle have not won a major trophy since 1969 (Arsenal last won the League Cup in 1993) but know how to go deep in this particular competition.
And they showed their composure to withstand an early second half assault by Arsenal to double their lead after 51minutes.
Isak again created the danger with a snap shot which Raya did well to palm away. Unfortunately, for the keeper and Arsenal, Gordon was first to react and beat Timber to the rebound to net a straightforward tap in.
Arsenal should have been back in it just seven minutes later when Havertz had a free header six yards out.Â
The German international was unmarked with the goal at his mercy and missed the ball with his head as it bounced off his shoulder. It was as if he panicked with too much time to think. Arsenal were beyond nervous on and off the pitch.
Saliba was guilty of nearly as bad a miss from a corner about five minutes later after Arteta made some changes and Arsenal went all out to get back into the match. Substitute Jorginho almost scored a late goal too, but missed the target.
How 10,000 or so Newcastle fans get back to the North East from North London so late on a Tuesday night is their business, but they seemed in no hurry to leave when the final whistle blew to the sound of their jubilant cheers and songs.
Raya 6, Lewis-Skelly 7 (Zinchenko 78), Gabriel 5, Saliba 5, Timber (5), Partey (6, Jorginho 59), Rice 5, Trossard 5, Jesus 59) Odegaard (4), Martinelli (4), Havertz (4).
Porter, Tierney, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Calafiori, Jorginho, Merino, Sterling, Jesus.
Dubravka 6 Hall (7), Burn (7), Botman (6), Livramento (7), Joelinton (7), Tonali (8), Willock (7, Longstaff 65), Gordon (8, Almiron 76), Murphy (7, Kelly 65), Isak (8, Barnes 65).
Vlachodimos, Trippier, Kelly, Almiron, Targett, Longstaff, Miley, Barnes, Osula.
John Brooks 7.
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