Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle: Isak and Gordon Shine in Semi-Final First Leg

Newcastle United secured a commanding 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at the Emirates Stadium. Goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon put the Magpies in control of the tie ahead of the second leg at St. James’ Park in February.

Match Recap

First Half:
Arsenal started brightly but struggled to capitalize on their chances. Gabriel Martinelli came closest, breaking through on goal only to see his effort cannon off the post. Newcastle, however, took the lead with a well-executed goal from Alexander Isak, who pounced on a loose ball in the box after a free kick was flicked on by Sven Botman and Jacob Murphy.

Second Half:
Newcastle doubled their advantage just six minutes into the second half. Anthony Gordon reacted quickest to a rebounded shot from Isak, sliding the ball into the net ahead of Jurrien Timber. Arsenal’s best chance to respond came when Kai Havertz missed a free header from six yards, leaving the Gunners with a steep uphill battle in the second leg.

Player Ratings

Arsenal (4-3-3)

• GK: David Raya – 6.6/10
  Made a few routine saves but was unable to prevent Newcastle’s goals.
• RB: Jurrien Timber – 6.6/10
  Solid defensively but was beaten by Gordon for Newcastle’s second goal.
• CB: William Saliba – 6.5/10
  Struggled to contain Isak’s movement.
• CB: Gabriel – 6.3/10
  A quiet performance with few standout moments.
• LB: Myles Lewis-Skelly – 6.1/10
  Found it difficult to handle Newcastle’s pace on the wings.
• CM: Martin Odegaard – 6.4/10
  Tried to dictate play but lacked his usual incisiveness.
• CM: Thomas Partey – 6.7/10
  A steady presence in midfield before being substituted.
• CM: Declan Rice – 7.8/10
  Arsenal’s standout player, breaking up play and driving the team forward.
• RW: Leandro Trossard – 7.0/10
  Looked dangerous at times but lacked end product.
• ST: Kai Havertz – 5.9/10
  Missed a golden opportunity to score and struggled to make an impact.
• LW: Gabriel Martinelli – 6.5/10
  Unlucky to hit the post in the first half but faded as the game progressed.

Substitutes:

• Jorginho (59′ for Partey) – 7.0/10
  Added composure in midfield.
• Gabriel Jesus (59′ for Trossard) – 5.8/10
  Largely ineffective after coming on.
• Oleksandr Zinchenko (78′ for Lewis-Skelly) – 6.8/10
  Brought energy to the left flank late on.

Newcastle (4-3-3)

• GK: Martin Dubravka – 8.3/10 (Player of the Match)
  Made crucial saves to keep a clean sheet and commanded his area brilliantly.
• RB: Tino Livramento – 7.5/10
  Impressive defensively and contributed going forward.
• CB: Sven Botman – 7.6/10
  Solid at the back and instrumental in setting up Isak’s goal.
• CB: Dan Burn – 7.2/10
  Dealt well with Arsenal’s aerial threats.
• LB: Lewis Hall – 7.0/10
  Defended diligently and supported the attack when needed.
• CM: Joe Willock – 6.4/10
  A quieter game before being substituted.
• CM: Sandro Tonali – 7.7/10
  Controlled the midfield and provided key passes.
• CM: Joelinton – 6.6/10
  A physical presence but lacked precision in his passing.
• RW: Jacob Murphy – 7.4/10
  Provided energy and an assist for the opening goal.
• ST: Alexander Isak – 8.1/10
  Scored the opener and caused problems for Arsenal’s defense throughout.
• LW: Anthony Gordon – 7.7/10
  Scored Newcastle’s second goal and worked tirelessly on the left wing.

Substitutes:

• Sean Longstaff (65′ for Willock) – 6.4/10
  Helped see out the game with defensive work.
• Harvey Barnes (65′ for Isak) – 6.4/10
  Provided fresh legs but didn’t have a major impact.
• Lloyd Kelly (65′ for Murphy) – 6.3/10
  Contributed defensively late on.
• Miguel Almiron (76′ for Gordon) – 6.1/10
  Added energy but had limited time to influence the game.

Key Takeaways

• Newcastle’s Advantage: The Magpies take a two-goal lead back to St. James’ Park, giving them a strong chance to reach the Carabao Cup final.
• Arsenal’s Struggles: The Gunners will need a much-improved performance in the second leg to overturn the deficit.
• Standout Performers: Martin Dubravka was outstanding in goal for Newcastle, while Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon delivered decisive moments.

FAQs

1. When is the second leg of the semi-final?
The second leg will take place in early February at St. James’ Park.

2. Who scored for Newcastle?
Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon scored for Newcastle.

3. Who was the Player of the Match?
Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka earned Player of the Match honors for his crucial saves.

4. What was Arsenal’s best chance?
Kai Havertz missed a free header from six yards out, which could have changed the game’s momentum.

5. What is the aggregate score going into the second leg?
Newcastle leads 2-0 on aggregate.