Arsenal vs Newcastle preview: Home stand

01/06/2025 03:00 PM

The Gunners host Newcastle in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-finals

Just three days after suffering a brutal Premier League draw at Brighton, Arsenal turn their attentions to the Carabao Cup semi-final, as they host Newcastle United for the 1st leg on Tuesday.

Arsenal are in the midst of a 13 match unbeaten run across all competitions, but have struggled to find consistency, which, to be fair, is hard to do when injuries, illnesses, and head-scratching officiating have hit at inopportune junctures. For all of their issues, the Gunners have done an admirable job to find results and keep the ship afloat.

Mikel Arteta's side find themselves with an opportunity to seize control of the semi-final tie with a solid performance. Recent history against Newcastle has shown that to be a tall prospect, especially with the visitors arriving in their best form all season.

Tuesday's match kicks off a series of five consecutive, and crucial, matches at the Emirates for the Gunners, who are searching for some solidity and security as the season passes the midpoint.

Will a tired and bruised Arsenal have enough in the tank to make the most of the first leg?

Here are five talking points ahead of Tuesday's match:

Know the Enemy

Don't look now, but Newcastle are starting to peak.

The Magpies have been in excellent form in the league, having won their last 5 Premier League matches after a 4-2 loss at Brentford in early December. Much of that can be attributed to the red-hot form of Alexander Isak, who is driving up his asking price with every goal scored. He has netted 9 times in the last 7 matches for Newcastle, taking his goal tally to 13 on the season across all comps.

On top of Isak, Anthony Gordon is providing a consistent threat from the left. Their one-two combination is tough to handle. In midfield, Bruno Guimaraes and Sandro Tonali have kept the Magpies humming. The defense is anchored by the duo of Fabian Schar and Dan Burn, who have helped lead Newcastle to three clean sheets and only two goals against over their last five matches.

Whether or not Eddie Howe decides to rotate is a big question mark. Unfortunately, with a spot in the final on the line, it's hard to imagine that he would.

Last Time Out

Arsenal found themselves in the semifinals thanks to an unlikely performance from Gabriel Jesus in the quarterfinals.

The much-maligned Brazilian striker lifted the Gunners to a 3-2 win at Selhurst Park in mid-December with a second half hat-trick that marked his first goals for Arsenal since scoring against Preston North End in the Fourth Round of the Carabao Cup in late October, and his first against a PL side in months.

The Gunners shook off a bad start after Jean-Philippe Matteo brushed Jakub Kiwior aside on a long ball in the 4th minute, but couldn't get off the mark until the second half, which coincided with Martin Ødegaard being subbed on. While Jesus got all the plaudits for his performance, it was the captain's influence that opened up the midfield and turned the match on its ear.

Injuries & Suspensions

The good news: Jurrien Timber is available after serving his one-match suspension against Brighton for yellow card accumulation.

The bad news: After the draw on Saturday, Mikel Arteta revealed that Ethan Nwaneri's substitution in the second half was due to a muscular injury, and that it was "bad news." With no prognosis given beyond that, it's safe to assume he will be on the shelf for a bit.

Out: Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Ben White (knee), Takehiro Tomiyasu (undisclosed), Raheem Sterling (knee).

Predicted Lineup

Attack: Trossard, Havertz, Martinelli

Arsenal's attacking depth got even thinner when Ethan Nwaneri was subbed off at halftime with a muscle injury. That leaves Arsenal with four available attackers. Jesus is due a rest, and Havertz should (hopefully) be recovered from his illness. Martinelli and Trossard didn't start on Saturday, which means they are the de facto starters on Tuesday.

Midfield: Rice, Partey, Ødegaard

Cup games usually mean rotation, but Arsenal don't really have that luxury in some positions, especially in the creative midfield. Jorginho could start at the 6, but looked pretty poor against Brighton before being subbed. Partey returning to the 6 should help with control from the midfield after deputizing at right back. Rice takes back the 8, unless Arteta feels necessary to rotate in Mikel Merino for the start.

Defense: Lewis Skelly, Kiwior, Saliba, Timber

Just a month ago, the left back position was rocked by injuries. Now, with all left backs healthy, there are actual options. Miles Lewis Skelly seems primed for a start in the cup after several great performances and being an unused sub against Brighton. Kiwior could slot into the left center back if Arteta is looking to rotate and rest Gabriel. And Jurrien Timber returns to the lineup after serving his yellow card accumulation ban against Brighton.

Keeper: Raya

Neto is cup tied, so Raya starts between the posts.

The Meat Grinder

There is a lot to weigh when thinking about the match, but it's the visitor's physicality that will be the biggest difference maker when they come to the Emirates. Arsenal are banged up at the moment, and they have looked leggy as the December and January fixture congestion has worn on. A lack of rotation has meant extensive minutes for many players, and Newcastle are a side that relish in getting stuck in. In their current form, it's reasonable to expect that they will want to impose themselves and push Arsenal around if they plan on leaving the Emirates with a cushion going into the return leg.

Make no mistake, Tuesday's match is going to be tough and telling.

It's been five years since Arsenal's last major trophy, and the pressure is on Mikel Arteta to guide his side to some silverware this season. The Carabao Cup is the lowest of priorities, but winning even that would relieve some of the criticisms facing the gaffer. With two cup ties over the next week, Arsenal's cup hopes lie in the balance. After a brutal draw, they'll need to shrug it off and put their best foot forward lest they face another potentially trophy-less season.

WHO: Arsenal vs Newcastle United
WHAT: The Carabao Cup Semi-Final 1st leg
WHEN: Tuesday, January 7th, 3:00pm EST/12:00pm PST/8:00pm GMT
WHERE: The Emirates Stadium, London
HOW TO WATCH: Streaming on the Paramount+ app

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