Newcastle United took a significant step toward ending their decades-long domestic trophy drought by defeating Arsenal 2-0 in the first leg of the English League Cup semifinals at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.
Goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon put the Magpies in prime position to reach the final at Wembley Stadium in March, with the second leg set for February 5 at St. James’ Park.
“It’s a great result. It’s only the first half. If we don’t go through then this has no meaning, but we can’t hide from the fact that this is a massive win,” said Isak, whose impressive scoring streak continues to drive Newcastle’s success.
Isak’s sharpness proved decisive in the 37th minute when he netted his 14th goal in 15 games. The Swedish forward struck off the underside of the crossbar following a long free kick from Jacob Murphy.
His involvement didn’t stop there — early in the second half, Isak’s shot forced a save from Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, and Gordon reacted swiftly to convert the rebound in the 51st minute.
The win marked Newcastle’s first victory at the Emirates Stadium since 2010 and handed Arsenal its first home defeat since April. The Gunners, currently second in the Premier League standings, had their opportunities to change the narrative.
Gabriel Martinelli hit the post in the 29th minute, and Kai Havertz squandered a crucial chance, misdirecting a close-range header.
Newcastle’s triumph reflects the team’s resurgence under manager Eddie Howe. The victory was their seventh consecutive win across all competitions, a streak fueled by Isak’s brilliance. “We rode our luck a little bit at times, but (I’m) really pleased with the result,” Howe admitted.
The win inches Newcastle closer to its first domestic trophy since lifting the FA Cup in 1955. Despite significant investment following the club’s acquisition by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund in 2021, Newcastle fell short in their last League Cup final, losing to Manchester United in 2023.
Currently fifth in the Premier League and just a point shy of the Champions League spots, Newcastle appears determined to claim silverware and cement its place among England’s elite teams.
In the other semifinal, Tottenham hosts Liverpool in the first leg at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday. For now, Newcastle’s commanding performance has set the stage for a potential return to glory — and a long-awaited date with history at Wembley.
