Eddie Howe had the opportunity to take charge of the England national team last summer, but instead, he remained focused on unfinished business in the northeast. His ambition to bring Newcastle their first major trophy since the Fairs Cup in 1969 has been a driving force, and on a remarkable night at St James’ Park, that determination burned bright.
By the time the final whistle blew, Newcastle had secured their place in a second Carabao Cup final in three seasons. Arsenal’s manager and players were outmaneuvered by a carefully crafted tactical plan. Nearly five years have passed since Arsenal last lifted a major trophy the 2020 FA Cup while Newcastle now prepares for a Wembley showdown next month. Arteta and his squad will instead head to Dubai for a period of reflection, but the jeers from Newcastle fans mocking his previous complaints about the match ball may take much longer to fade.
Before the match, Howe had acknowledged the popular belief that “2-0 is the most dangerous lead in football.” However, by halftime, Newcastle had gone a long way toward proving otherwise. The manager made a crucial tactical shift, abandoning his usual back-four formation in favor of a back-five. This adjustment, partially necessitated by the absence of the injured Joelinton, also allowed Howe to keep all three of Fabian Schär, Sven Botman, and Dan Burn on the field. Given that Schär was the only right-footed central defender available, dropping either Botman or Burn would have been a difficult decision.
The defensive reshuffle was not just about maintaining balance within the squad; it also served to neutralize Arsenal’s threat from set pieces. The change paid off handsomely, as Schär, Botman, and Burn all delivered outstanding performances, disrupting Arsenal’s attacking rhythm and systematically eroding their confidence.
Arsenal had intended to attack relentlessly, with their manager urging them to go “full gas” in pursuit of an early goal. Recognizing the need for experience and defensive composure, Howe made the strategic decision to start Kieran Trippier at right wing-back instead of Tino Livramento. Trippier’s game intelligence and leadership proved invaluable, frequently exposing the gaps in Arsenal’s approach.
The home fans demanded an aggressive, no-nonsense performance, as highlighted by a massive banner in the Gallowgate End that read “Get Into Them.” Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak took that message to heart, leading Newcastle’s attack with relentless energy. The opening moments of the match saw Isak finish a well-worked move with a powerful shot into the net, only for VAR to rule it out for a marginal offside.
Not deterred by that early setback, Newcastle kept pressing forward. Arsenal’s defense struggled to contain Isak, and their temporary reprieve soon vanished. After Martin Ødegaard squandered a promising opportunity, Isak unleashed a thunderous 20-yard strike that smashed against the post. The ball rebounded perfectly for Jacob Murphy, who reacted quickly to send a half-volley past Arsenal’s goalkeeper, David Raya. The sheer inevitability of Newcastle’s breakthrough underscored just how much control they had over the game.
Howe’s tactical setup, despite featuring five defenders, did not translate to a purely defensive approach. Instead, Newcastle applied aggressive pressing, unsettling Arsenal’s attempts to build from the back. Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimarães patrolled the midfield with boundless energy, suffocating Arsenal’s ability to dictate play.
Gabriel Martinelli had boldly predicted that his team would score “three, four, or five goals” to turn the tie around, but his night ended in disappointment when he pulled a hamstring and was replaced by Ethan Nwaneri in the 37th minute. Arsenal had started to gain more possession, but their control was largely superficial, as Newcastle’s well-drilled defense denied them clear-cut opportunities.
Despite boasting over 70% possession, Arsenal struggled to create genuine threats. Newcastle’s defensive resilience limited their attacking output to a couple of moments—a solid save from Martin Dúbravka to deny Leandro Trossard and Ødegaard clipping the outside of the post. Other than that, Arsenal’s attacking efforts lacked conviction.
As they pushed forward in search of a lifeline, Arsenal left themselves vulnerable at the back. The home fans could sense that victory was near, and their celebrations grew louder when Gordon sealed Newcastle’s triumph with a second goal.
The move that led to Gordon’s goal stemmed from a sequence of defensive errors by Arsenal. Raya, attempting to play out from the back, found himself under pressure and misplaced a pass. Declan Rice was then dispossessed by a strong Schär tackle, allowing the ball to fall into Gordon’s path. The winger took full advantage, keeping his composure to slot a low shot past the helpless Raya.
