Newcastle and Arsenal in battle for Carabao Cup final spot

With a place at Wembley on the line, Newcastle United and Arsenal face off in the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Wednesday evening under the lights of at St. James’ Park.

Newcastle head into the match with a two-goal advantage from the first leg, putting the close to their second Carabao Cup final in three years. The Magpies have never won the competition, and their last major domestic trophy dates back to 1955.

Eddie Howe’s men have the chance to rewrite history, but they must avoid complacency to ensure their dreams don’t unravel.

A draw or even a narrow one-goal defeat would be enough for Newcastle to progress. However, recent form suggests this tie is far from settled. Back-to-back home defeats, including a disappointing 2-1 loss to Fulham over the weekend, have raised concerns.

Despite these setbacks, Newcastle can draw confidence from having won three of their last four home meetings against Arsenal. Howe will be urging his players to rise to the occasion and deliver a performance worthy of the club’s ambitions.

On the other hand, Arsenal arrive in the northeast with momentum on their side. A dominant 5-1 demolition of Manchester City at the Emirates over the weekend served as a powerful statement in their pursuit of Premier League glory.

However, Mikel Arteta’s side must now shift focus to the cup as they aim to overturn their deficit and reach their first Carabao Cup final since the 2017/18 season.

Arsenal’s task is a daunting one - they need to win by at least three clear goals to secure their place at Wembley. Achieving such a result at St. James’ Park is no small feat, especially considering the Gunners haven’t done so since October 2010. Still, with six wins and two draws from their last eight away matches across all competitions, Arsenal have shown they can deliver strong performances on the road.

Was the ball really a problem for Arsenal?

A key talking point after the first leg was Arteta’s remarks about needing to “adapt” to the “tricky” ball used in the competition.

Despite Arsenal dominating with 23 shots to Newcastle’s seven and posting an xG of 3.12, the focus shifted to Arteta’s unusual explanation for the missed chances: the switch from the Nike ball used in the Premier League to a Puma ball in the Carabao Cup.

"We kicked a lot of balls over the bar, and it’s tricky that these balls fly a lot," said the Arsenal boss.

"It’s very different to a Premier League ball, and you have to adapt to that because it flies differently.

"When you touch it, the grip is very different as well, so you have to adapt to that."

The EFL responded to Arteta's comments, claiming "all clubs play with the same ball".

The statement added: "As is required throughout the professional game, the Puma ball used in this season’s Carabao Cup and in EFL competition since 2021/22 is tested in accordance with the Fifa Quality Programme for Footballs, and meets the Fifa Quality Pro standard.

"In addition to the Carabao Cup, the same ball has been successfully used in other major European leagues, including both Serie A and La Liga and our three divisions in the EFL. All clubs play with the same ball, and we have received no further comments of this nature following any of the previous 88 fixtures which have taken place in this season’s Carabao Cup."

Arteta’s comments raised eyebrows, especially since Arsenal had already scored 11 goals in their previous three Carabao Cup games using the same ball.

Moreover, both teams were playing under identical conditions. While it’s true the flight of the Puma ball might differ from the Nike ball Arsenal are accustomed to, these are professional footballers earning substantial wages - they’re expected to adapt.

How Arsenal fare with the Puma ball in Wednesday’s second leg remains to be seen. However, after Sunday’s emphatic 5-1 victory over Manchester City, it’s likely the Gunners have spent much of their preparation practicing with the ball that will be in play at St James’ Park on Wednesday.

Verdict

Buoyed by their dominant victory over Manchester City on Sunday and Newcastle’s back-to-back defeats at St. James’ Park, Arsenal will feel confident about securing a result. However, overturning a two-goal deficit to reach the final might be a step too far. If Arsenal can start quickly, the game could head into extra time, but Newcastle will be equally determined to advance and end their long wait for a trophy - their first since 1955.

Newcastle 1 – 2 Arsenal