Newcastle United have secured their place in the Carabao Cup final after a commanding 2-0 victory over Arsenal, extending their lead to 4-0 on aggregate and inching closer to ending a 56-year trophy drought.
With a 2-0 advantage from the first leg, Eddie Howe’s side completed the job at St. James’ Park, setting up a final showdown with either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur at Wembley.
Newcastle were off to a fast start, with Alexander Isak having a goal ruled out for offside.
In the 19th minute, Jacob Murphy opened the scoring, pouncing on a rebound after Isak’s shot hit the post.
Arsenal’s best chance came moments before the opener, when Martin Ødegaard hit the post with only goalkeeper Martin Dúbravka to beat.
The second and decisive goal came in the 52nd minute when Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya lost possession under pressure, allowing Anthony Gordon to calmly slot home and seal Newcastle’s place in the final.
Despite recent league struggles and the absence of injured Joelinton, Newcastle controlled the game from start to finish, never appearing at risk of losing their grip on the tie.
The victory provides an opportunity for redemption after their loss to Manchester United in the 2023 EFL Cup final and represents their first chance at winning a major domestic title since the 1955 FA Cup.
For Arsenal, the defeat marks a major setback after their impressive 5-1 win over Manchester City just days earlier.
The Gunners struggled to match Newcastle’s intensity across both legs and must now refocus on their Premier League and Champions League aspirations.
(Prompt news)