Newcastle United advanced to the Carabao Cup final with a convincing 2-0 win over Arsenal in the second leg of their semi-final clash, securing a dominant 4-0 aggregate victory. The result saw Newcastle comfortably progress to the final, while Arsenal’s hopes of lifting the trophy this season were dashed. The Gunners had entered the match trailing 2-0 from the first leg, needing a strong performance at St. James’ Park to overturn the deficit. However, they struggled throughout the game, unable to break down Newcastle's resolute defense.
Newcastle’s attacking spearhead, Alexander Isak, was at the forefront of their offensive efforts, constantly causing problems for Arsenal's defenders Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba. Isak thought he had given his side an early lead but saw his goal disallowed for offside. Arsenal had a rare chance to threaten when captain Martin Ødegaard hit the post with a long-range effort, but the Gunners’ attacking play lacked the cutting edge needed to challenge Newcastle’s defense.
It wasn’t long before Newcastle opened the scoring in the 22nd minute. After Isak’s shot came off the upright, Jacob Murphy was quickest to react, putting the ball into the back of the net to give Newcastle a deserved lead. The hosts doubled their advantage just before the break in the 38th minute, capitalizing on a defensive mistake from Arsenal. A misplaced pass from goalkeeper David Raya was intercepted by Declan Rice, allowing Anthony Gordon to pounce and score Newcastle’s second goal, putting the tie well beyond Arsenal’s reach.
In the second half, Arsenal tried to improve their possession and pushed for a goal to reduce the deficit, but despite a few more attacks, they were unable to find a breakthrough. Newcastle’s defense remained solid, and the Gunners struggled to create clear-cut opportunities. Despite Mikel Arteta’s efforts to change things with tactical adjustments, Arsenal was unable to recover from the early damage done by Newcastle.
With the 2-0 victory on the night, Newcastle sealed a comprehensive 4-0 aggregate win and now look ahead to the Carabao Cup final, where they will compete for silverware. Arsenal, on the other hand, will now focus their efforts on the Premier League and Champions League, as their cup run came to an end in disappointing fashion. The Gunners will need to regroup and focus on their remaining domestic and European campaigns, while Newcastle’s triumph has been a major boost for their ambitions this season.