North London once again – Arsenal v Newcastle preview | OneFootball

Welcome to the Arsenal v Newcastle preview.

Tuesday 7th January – 8pm

League Cup semi-final first leg.

Newcastle play in just their third League Cup semi-final in their history on Tuesday night, as they look to beat the Gunners over two legs to secure a place in the Wembley final.

The first leg will take place at the Emirates before a return fixture at St James’ Park on Wednesday 5th February. Newcastle will be looking to make their second final in just three years, whereas Arsenal will be hoping to make their first League Cup final since a 2-1 defeat to Birmingham City in 2011.

Newcastle have beaten Nottingham Forest, AFC Wimbledon, Chelsea and Brentford in the League Cup this season and are currently in a very rich vein of form, having won their past six matches in all competitions. The Toon have scored eighteen goals during this run, conceding just twice.

Arsenal have reached the semi-final having overcome Bolton, Preston and Crystal Palace (they received a bye into round three due to participation in Europe). They’ve won four of their past six games in all competitions and drawn two, meaning that neither side has tasted defeat for quite some time.

Last time out

Newcastle went away to Tottenham on Saturday for an early kick-off and were able to show great resilience to come from behind and win their fifth league game in a row. The match was only three minutes old when Spurs scored a close-range header. Thankfully United were able to bounce back and level the scores just two minutes later when Gordon drove home his fifth of the season. Newcastle soon had a grip on the match for the rest of the first half and Isak was unlucky to see an effort go just wide before scoring from an identical chance just a few minutes later.

The scene seemed set for Newcastle to increase their lead but the interval came at the perfect time for Spurs, who were able to regroup and take the game to the Toon in the second half. They came close on a couple of occasions but couldn’t find an equaliser, meaning Newcastle returned to Tyneside with the spoils.

Ange Postecoglou attempted to blame the referee in a ludicrous post-match interview that defied belief. Perhaps he should be more concerned with the fact that his twelfth-placed side haven’t won at home in the Premier League since the start of November and are now way off the European places. Hopefully we’ll see them again in the League Cup final and complete our fourth consecutive victory over the Cockerels (oh, and winning the trophy would be nice too!).

Arsenal had to be content with just a point over the weekend as they drew 1-1 away to Brighton. An early lead for the Gunners looked like it might be enough to keep their interest in the title race alive but a second-half penalty earned a point and a place in the top ten for the seagulls.

Unfortunately, and not for the first time, Arteta also bleated on in his press conference about decisions going against his team (must be something about being a North London manager!). Hopefully we’ll see more of his tears on Tuesday night!

Newcastle have never lost a league Cup semi-final beating Spurs over two legs in 1976 and Southampton in 2023. Both ties finished 3-1 on aggregate to the Toon

Newcastle have never beaten Arsenal in the League Cup, the two sides have met on four previous occasions and we’ve lost all four without scoring a goal.

The Toon have lost twelve of their last thirteen visits to Arsenal, a 0-0 draw in 2023 being the only time we’ve avoided defeat in this sequence.

Newcastle have only won once at the Emirates stadium in nineteen visits.

In 2023, Newcastle reached their first League Cup semi-final for forty seven years and travelled to Southampton, hoping to take a lead into the second leg at St James’ Park. Joelinton was to have a very eventful night indeed, having one effort controversially disallowed before blazing over a golden chance and then scoring the only goal of the game.

Newcastle were grateful to Nick Pope who made two fine saves at 0-0 and the referee who ruled out a Saints equaliser near the end. Southampton were reduced to ten men when a defender was given his second yellow but with just one goal in it, the tie was very much in the balance at the end of the first leg. Final score Southampton 0-1 Newcastle.

Played for both

Older readers may remember a certain Andy Cole who began his career by playing one league game for Arsenal before being loaned to Fulham and then sold to Bristol City. Kevin Keegan broke the club’s transfer record by splashing out £1.75 million for the striker in 1993. This is a number nine who’s record stands up to anyone else’s – a whopping sixty eight goals in eighty four matches before being controversially sold to Man United in January 1995 for a British record transfer fee. Some fans were so angry at the sale that they turned up at the stadium demanding answers, which Keegan provided, famously standing on the steps to explain his decision. King Kev would go on to sign both Sir Les and Alan Shearer, as the entertainers came ‘so close’ to being champions of England for the first time since 1927, but that’s a story for another day.

Sol Campbell was something of a legend at Arsenal having run down his contract at rivals Spurs to join the Gunners on a free transfer. He’d go on to win a number of trophies and even grabbed a goal in the 2006 Champions League final. He played a handful of games for NUFC in 2010 but it’s safe to say he was well past his best when donning the famous black and white.

Current Arsenal midfielder Mikel Merino had all the makings of a fan favourite when playing for Newcastle in the 17/18 season, his ability was clear for all to see. Unfortunately, he struggled for form and fitness at NUFC and returned to Spain after just one season.

Managers

Eddie Howe after a 2-1 win away at Tottenham:

“Based on our first half performance I thought we were really good. The most pleasing thing is to come back from conceding an early goal away from home. We made it hard for ourselves but played really well in the end. On another day maybe we could have led by two at the break and then second half we had to defend really well. I’m really pleased to get over the line and win the game. Some of our attacking play in the first half was really strong”.

Mikel Arteta after a 1-1 draw away at Brighton:

“I have never seen a decision like this in my career. I asked the boys if they have and nobody has seen it before. When you look at the incident, the distance, the player, João touching the ball, then Saliba touching the ball, you can see contact there. After three seconds they said VAR had already checked. It seems quick. The run that we are on especially with all the situations, injuries and players that we are missing – I think the team deserves a lot of credit.”

Charity

As it is an away match, Newcastle United fans will not be collecting opposite the Gallowgate end, for the food bank. However, you can still help out and all online cash donations are very much appreciated. For further info and/or to donate to the food bank online go HERE.

Both of these teams are very much in form and neither will want to take a heavy defeat into the second leg.

Arsenal will have half an eye on their following fixtures against Man U and Tottenham, whereas the Toon will be on a mission to reach their second final in just three years. I fancy us to nick this first leg… just. Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle.