Newcastle United moved one step closer to ending a 56-year trophy drought as they secured a place in the Carabao Cup final with a comprehensive 3-0 aggregate win over Arsenal.
Eddie Howe’s men, who took a 2-0 advantage into the second leg, triumphed 1-0 at St James’ Park, setting up a showdown at Wembley against either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur.
The victory came on an emotional night for Newcastle, with their supporters in full voice, creating a pressure cooker atmosphere as the team sought to build on their commanding first-leg performance.
Arsenal, who had shown promise with a 5-1 win over Manchester City at the weekend, could not capitalize on their momentum, despite a strong early chance from Martin Ødegaard, who hit the post with just goalkeeper Martin Dubravka to beat.
Newcastle made the most of their early advantage, getting off to a flying start in the 19th minute. Alexander Isak’s shot rebounded off the post, and Jacob Murphy was there to pounce on the loose ball, firing it home for the opening goal.
The strike came just moments after Ødegaard’s missed opportunity, shifting the momentum in Newcastle’s favor and leaving Arsenal with little room for recovery.
The atmosphere only intensified as the match progressed, with the Toon Army’s relentless support pushing their team forward. However, it was a mistake from Arsenal keeper David Raya early in the second half that proved to be the turning point.
In the 52nd minute, Raya attempted to pass the ball to Declan Rice, only for Newcastle’s Fabian Schär to intercept the pass, setting up Anthony Gordon for a simple finish to make it 1-0 on the night and seal the aggregate victory for the Magpies.
While Arsenal struggled to find a way back into the game, Newcastle played with confidence, controlling the tempo and staving off any serious threats.
Despite being without the influential Joelinton, sidelined by injury, Newcastle’s midfield and attack functioned smoothly, with Isak’s involvement key to their success.
The Swede’s pace and movement continually troubled Arsenal’s defense, and the team never looked like relinquishing their advantage.
The result delivered a significant boost to Howe and his squad, who will now prepare for a trip to Wembley in pursuit of their first major domestic trophy since the 1955 FA Cup.
For manager Eddie Howe, leading Newcastle to this final would solidify his legacy at the club, while for the fans, it’s a chance to erase the painful memories of their defeat to Manchester United in the 2023 EFL Cup final.
On the other hand, Mikel Arteta and Arsenal were left to reflect on a missed opportunity. The Gunners, despite having a strong squad and a fine recent record, were unable to lift their game in either leg of the semi-final.
With Arsenal unable to match the intensity or quality of their previous performances, their hopes of progressing to Wembley faded quickly.
With the final now in sight, Newcastle’s supporters will be dreaming of a triumphant return to Wembley and the long-awaited end to a 56-year trophy drought. The pressure is on, but for now, they have reason to believe that this could be their year.
