Newcastle vs Arsenal LIVE: Team news and line-ups from Carabao Cup semi-final as hosts target Wembley
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Newcastle United host Arsenal in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final when the teams clash at St. James’ Park this evening.
Eddie Howe’s men triumphed 2-0 in the first leg in an impressive victory away from home with Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon scoring either side of half-time to give the Magpies a decent aggregate lead heading into this match. However, Newcastle have lost two of their last three matches and come into the game on the back of a 2-1 defeat at home versus Fulham. This slight dip in form may be concerning as they face a confident Arsenal side.
Mikel Arteta’s men defeated Manchester City 5-1 in their last outing extending their unbeaten run to six games. They are staying in touch with Liverpool in the Premier League title race and will bring a determined focus to overturn the deficit.
Follow all the action from St. James’ Park with our live blog below:
White and Saka unavailable
Mikel Arteta gave a disappointing update to Arsenal fans when addressing which of his players will be fit for tonight’s match.
“There’s no news from the game against City,” he said, “Ben [White] is still out.
“Hopefully after the break, he will be available, [Bukayo] Saka not yet.”
Mike Jones5 February 2025 18:35
Newcastle condemn ‘appalling racist abuse’ aimed at Joe Willock on social media
Newcastle United have notified police after midfielder Joe Willock found himself the target of an “appalling” racist online attack on Saturday evening.
The 25-year-old revealed he was abused on Instagram in the wake of a disappointing 2-1 Premier League defeat by Fulham at St James’ Park, the Magpies’ second in succession following Bournemouth’s 4-1 victory on Tyneside two weeks earlier.
Mike Jones5 February 2025 18:30
Can Arsenal win?
The Gunners will be confident about heading into tonight’s encounter.
Not only are they in fine form but they know that Newcastle have been beaten on home soil in their last two games, conceding two or more goals on both occasions.
It’ll need to happen again tonight if Arsenal are to make it to the final and Eddie Howe seems determined not to let that happen.
Mike Jones5 February 2025 18:25
Will history repeat itself?
Only two teams in the history of the League Cup have overcome a home defeat in the first leg to reach the final, but Arsenal were the last team to do so when they famously pipped Tottenham Hotspur in 1986/87.
Mike Jones5 February 2025 18:20
‘We’re at the halfway point’
Eddie Howe isn’t letting his Newcastle players get ahead of themselves due to their lead and has stressed the semi-final tie is only at the halfway stage.
Howe said: “My message is we are at the halfway point in the tie. Against any opposition, the game is still very much alive.
“We have to do our part but I think the quality of Arsenal and the team they have, we have to be on our guard.
“We have to approach the game in a really positive and aggressive way, try to be ourselves in every moment and there will be no deviation from that. We are in a good position and need to make the most of every opportunity.”
Mike Jones5 February 2025 18:15
Arsenal star Myles Lewis-Skelly makes himself known to the world
Myles Lewis-Skelly’s outrageous celebration in Arsenal’s 5-1 thumping of Manchester City announced the club’s 18-year-old academy star on to the world stage.
The audacious decision to goad one of the game’s blue-chip names in Erling Haaland followed a clash between the two players at the Etihad in September.
Haaland did not take kindly to Lewis-Skelly’s involvement in a post-match scuffle after the chaotic 2-2 draw.
Mike Jones5 February 2025 18:10
No new striker is ‘not a gamble’ says Arteta
Of Arsenal’s failed striker pursuit in the transfer window Mikel Arteta added: “It’s not a gamble, it’s reality and we have to face the reality.
“I am not worried. Now I focus on the numbers that we have, how to maximise them, how to make the best out of them.
“With all the problems that we have already had, it’s remarkable what the team has done (this season) so I have full faith in them.”
Mike Jones5 February 2025 18:00
Mikel Arteta ‘disappointed’ that Arsenal failed to sign a striker
Mikel Arteta admits he was disappointed Arsenal did not sign a new striker but believes it is not a gamble.
“We had a clear intention to explore the opportunities to improve our squad with players that can impact it. And we haven’t achieved that so we are disappointed in that sense.
“We are very aware that we only want to bring a certain kind of player in and we have to be very disciplined with that as well.
“After you don’t achieve it, for sure there are things to learn from it, there always are but you have to move on. Nobody knows whether it is better to have done it or not. We’ll know probably at the end of the season.
“But we’re going to have to be very flexible with the front line. Leo can play in that position. Raheem [Sterling] has played in that position. Ethan [Nwaneri], I think, can play in that position. [Gabriel] Martinelli can play there, too. At some point, we’re going to have to try something different.”
Mike Jones5 February 2025 17:55
Why Arsenal didn’t sign a striker in January and how Alexander Isak could make them regret it
They already knew he was impossible to get in the January window. They’re aware it won’t be far off impossible in the summer, perhaps even harder than pinning him down at St James’ Park to overturn a 2-0 deficit.
If it will no doubt irritate people at Newcastle United to start discussion of a semi-final second leg with talk of potentially selling their star, it is naturally framed by Monday, and what happened in the last few days.
Mike Jones5 February 2025 17:50
