Newcastle took control in their Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal as in-form Alexander Isak inspired a 2-0 win in a pulsating first leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal bombarded the Newcastle goal for long periods of the contest but missed a number of chances, mostly from set pieces, with just three of their 23 shots on target.
Newcastle, by contrast, were relentless, and Isak opened the scoring with his 10th goal in nine games when he pounced on poor Arsenal defending from a long ball in the first half.
The Sweden international was also heavily involved in Newcastle’s second, exchanging passes with Jacob Murphy before firing a diagonal shot towards goal that David Ray could only push into the path of the onrushing Anthony Gordon shortly after half-time.
Newcastle haven’t won away to Arsenal since November 2010 and were without key duo Bruno Guimaraes and Fabian Schar through suspension, but defended doggedly to maintain their two-goal advantage as the hosts continued to struggle in front of goal.
Kai Havertz, selected to start the attack ahead of the in-form Gabriel Jesus, missed his best chance, heading in a free-kick from close range, but he was not alone in his poor finishing, with Gabriel Martinelli hitting the post in a one-on-one in the first half, and the hosts failed to capitalize on a number of dead ball opportunities.
The two-goal defeat leaves Arsenal, who are already six points behind Liverpool in the Premier League, facing a huge task to overturn a two-goal deficit in the second leg at St James’ Park on Wednesday 5 February. Newcastle, meanwhile, continue to dream of ending their 55-year trophy drought, extending their winning streak to seven games in all competitions.
Tottenham welcome Liverpool on Wednesday night in the first leg of the second semi-final, live Sky Sports at 8 p.m.
Arteta regrets the extravagance, but still believes
Arsenal safe Mikel Arteta told Sky Sports:
“The biggest difference was the clinical game. In every other aspect we were the better team. They scored two goals and kudos to them for winning this game.
“When we missed chances and conceded a goal, it’s always difficult, but the team reacted. We generated a lot of chances, but the truth is, they defended the box very well.
“We can do better with our decisions. We had a one-on-one opportunity with the goalkeeper, and in the semi-finals you have to be clinical.”
He said of Alexander Isak’s goal: “I saw the goal and that’s what they do – they create chaos and the wrong player comes and Isak puts it away.”
In the second game, he added: “We have to be disappointed because it’s another result we wanted, but that’s the reality. I fully believe. I saw my team play against them – I believe we can do it.”
Redknapp: Why did Odegaard mark Isak?
Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp was confused that Odegaard was assigned to mark Isak for the first goal, saying: “The set-up coach has a lot of credit – he obviously doesn’t do the defensive work because how can you have Odegaard to mark Isak?”
“He’s the best centre-forward in the country right now; you have to describe someone in detail to say, ‘Where is he? Let’s mark him’. Odegaard has no interest in marking him.
“He’s the wrong side of Odegaard – it’s just a disagreement. Someone has to take that responsibility.
“I know Newcastle are a big team, they have (Sven) Botman, (Dan) Burn, Joelinton. But Arsenal are a big team. You can’t have the best centre-forward in the country with so much space. It makes no sense to me.”
Analysis: Isak shows Arsenal’s ultimate weakness
Kai Havertz had four scoreless innings. Gabriel Martinelli had three, as did Martin Odegaard, Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhaes. Arsenal’s finishing problems were in stark contrast to the clinical brilliance of Alexander Isak. Both of his shots led to Newcastle goals.
The first was headed into the net off the crossbar after Sven Botman teed up Martin Dubravka’s long free-kick, which Jacob Murphy helped into Isak’s path. The second saw David Raya parry the ball into the feet of a grateful Anthony Gordon.
Isak effectively decided this game, as well as many others this season. The 25-year-old is up to 15 goals in all competitions. Three quarters of them came within barely a month. His form has been utterly devastating and Arsenal are just his latest victim.
Not surprisingly, they are among his suitors. This was the sixth game this season in which they failed to score, and there were seven more in which they scored just one. How could they use a finisher like Isak. Newcastle feel the advantages.
Howe: A big step forward, but the tie is still alive
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe told Sky Sports:
“It was a really interesting game. We started from the first foot, we tried to pass the game to them and be ourselves which we thought was very important,
“Then we got tired, the players gave so much in the last games. Then the mentality was to defend and we did that very well.
“We know what’s at stake. The players put their bodies on the line and put fatigue aside. We had a few injury problems at half-time that we tried to solve in the game.
“Alex (Isaak) was feeling a bit stiff in his hamstring, Joe Willock had a nasty knock, Sven (Botman) was feeling his groin. We were grinding a bit in the second half which is why I made substitutions to try and stay strong in the game.
“It’s a tough ground and we’ve suffered here before. Today is another big step forward when you look at the recent run we’ve had away from home. We’re playing with confidence and belief and that helps when you’re defense in the closing moments is very alive, still is very finely balanced.
“We know that in the second leg we have our fans with us which will be very important, but we will still have to do everything right to get through this tie.”
The story of the match in statistics…
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