Newcastle vs Arsenal: EFL Cup semi-final team news, expected line-ups, TV channel, live stream details and prediction

Arsenal's last EFL Cup semi-final away goal was more than 18 years ago

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Newcastle vs Arsenal match preview

When Newcastle won 2-0 at Arsenal in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-finals on January 7, the Magpies were in the middle of a club record-equalling nine-match winning run in all competitions.

Less than a month later, Arsenal’s task of overturning that deficit looks less formidable than it might have done after Eddie Howe’s side suffered a second successive home defeat by losing 2-1 to Fulham on Saturday.

Newcastle have already been beaten by three goals at home this month thanks to Bournemouth’s 4-1 win at St James’ Park on January 18, but a second EFL Cup final appearance in three seasons remains well within their sights.

“Whether we had one or two eyes on [the semi-final], I’d be very surprised,” Howe said after the setback against the Cottagers.

“We can’t look at that as a distraction. But we know how big this game is and we’ll do our best. It’s massive – an absolutely huge game.

“I really hope we can deliver a good performance. I hope the crowd can get behind us – we’re going to need them in every moment. It’s a difficult game.”

Arsenal’s first-leg loss came as part of a run of two defeats and a draw, including a surprise immediate FA Cup exit on penalties at home to 10-man Manchester United.

They have won five times and drawn once since, with this a chance to reach the final for the first time since 2017/18 and potentially end their 32-year wait to lift the trophy.

Second in the Premier League, Arsenal are nine points above Newcastle and may have hit the goals trail at the right time after thrashing reigning champions Manchester City 5-1 at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

The winners of the tie will meet Liverpool or Tottenham, who have a 1-0 lead ahead of their second leg at Anfield on Thursday (8pm GMT), in the final at Wembley Stadium on March 16.

Newcastle vs Arsenal team news

Attacker Joelinton will be assessed by Newcastle, having been withdrawn with a knee issue shortly after Fulham’s second-half equaliser on Saturday.

Winger Harvey Barnes has a thigh injury but defender Fabian Schar and midfielder Bruno Guimaraes could return following suspensions for the first leg.

Defender Jamaal Lascelles is not expected to be back until at least March with a knee injury, but striker Callum Wilson could be in contention after recovering from a thigh injury.

Arsenal goalkeeper Neto is cup-tied because the Brazilian played for parent club Bournemouth earlier in this season’s competition.

Key creative presence Bukayo Saka remains among their absentees, having sustained a long-term hamstring injury at the end of December, as does forward Gabriel Jesus with a knee problem.

Full-backs Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu are out with shorter-term fitness issues.

Newcastle vs Arsenal expected line-ups

Newcastle starting XI: Dubravka, Trippier, Schar, Burn, Hall, Guimaraes, Tonali, Willock, Murphy, Isak, Gordon

Arsenal starting XI: Raya, Lewis-Skelly, Gabriel, Saliba, Timber, Rice, Partey, Odegaard, Trossard, Havertz, Martinelli

How to watch Newcastle vs Arsenal: Live stream, TV channel

Kick-off is at 20:00 UK time, with live coverage on Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football and Sky Sports Ultra commencing at 19:00.

Fans wanting to live stream the action can watch via Sky GO on a wide range of devices including mobile phones and tablets.

Newcastle vs Arsenal stats

  • Newcastle have won the last 9 matches in a row while scoring more than 1.5 goals
  • Newcastle have won the last 5 home matches in a row while scoring more than 2.5 goals
  • Newcastle have won 6 of the last 7 home matches in the EFL Cup while scoring less than 2.5 goals
  • Newcastle have won the last 5 home matches in a row and the sum of goals was over 2.5
  • Newcastle have won the last 5 home matches in a row while scoring more than 1.5 goals
  • Arsenal have won 3 of the last 4 matches in the EFL Cup while scoring more than 2.5 goals
  • In 4 of the last 5 Arsenal matches in the EFL Cup, the sum of goals was over 2.5
  • Arsenal have won 3 of the last 4 matches in the EFL Cup and the sum of goals was over 2.5
  • Arsenal have won 3 of the last 4 matches in the EFL Cup while scoring more than 1.5 goals
  • In 3 of the last 4 Arsenal matches the sum of goals was under 3.5

Alexander Isak playing for Newcastle United Football Club

Newcastle vs Arsenal prediction

On the form they showed against City, Arsenal will feel confident of becoming the third successive visitors to Newcastle to score at least twice.

A fast start of the kind they made in that game, when Martin Odegaard scored the opener after two minutes, would be immensely helpful to their cause, but they were aided by sloppy defending on that occasion.

Newcastle, on the other hand, have cause to believe they can frustrate Arsenal, having kept three home clean sheets in a row before their thrashing by the Cherries.

Most promisingly, they won this fixture 1-0 at home on November 2, repeating their home victory by the same scoreline over Arsenal in 2023/24.

Arsenal have failed to score on three of their last four visits to Newcastle and five of their last seven games against them overall, but they won 2-0 as the away side in 2021 and 2023 and hit four against them at home last February.

There could be an argument that the incentive is higher for Newcastle: Howe would doubtless love the prestige of winning the club’s first major domestic trophy since 1955, while Arsenal have not looked like a side concentrating on this competition under Mikel Arteta, whose longest run in the EFL Cup with them has been a semi-final.

Newcastle and Howe are entitled to feel they have unfinished business after underperforming in their 2-0 defeat to Manchester United in the 2023 final and have obvious firepower in Isak, who scored the winner in their most recent victory over Arsenal.

The joint-third top scorer in the top flight has 18 goals in his last 19 games in all competitions, including two in his last three in the EFL Cup.

Isak has helped Newcastle score in each of their last 15 games since a 2-0 home defeat to West Ham on November 25, and can do so again to help them draw 1-1 and reach the final 3-1 on aggregate here.

Extra time and penalties will decide the tie if it is level on aggregate after 90 minutes.

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