Two Arsenal players accused of 'going missing' during painful Newcastle defeat

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Two Arsenal stars have been accused of ‘going missing’ during the club’s painful Carabao Cup semi-final defeat to Newcastle United.

Newcastle have one foot in the Carabao Cup final after beating Arsenal 2-0 in the first leg of their semi-final tie at the Emirates Stadium.

Eddie Howe’s side are looking to reach the final for the second time in three seasons and took control of the tie thanks to goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon either side of half-time.

Arsenal were on top for large periods but were made to pay for a number of missed chances, with Kai Havertz missing a gilt-edged chance late on to give the Gunners hope ahead of the return leg at St James’ Park.

Of course, a comeback is certainly not beyond an Arsenal team that have consistently challenged for the title under Mikel Arteta, but Newcastle are undoubtedly favourites to reach the final, where they would meet Liverpool or Tottenham.

Ex-Premier League striker Troy Deeney was underwhelmed by Arsenal’s performance in north London and accused Havertz and fellow forward Gabriel Jesus of ‘going missing’.

Speaking on CBS Sports, Deeney said: ‘They do the same patterns of play, going down one side and trying to play inside, trying to get a third man runner.

‘All that Newcastle did, they just went [banks of] five and five and said: “Go on, break us down”. And they couldn’t do it.

‘Yes, they had a couple of chances, but the chance that came to [Gabriel] Martinelli was a turnover. It wasn’t exactly that they worked it.

‘The rest were from bits on corners, so it’s not exactly like they are breaking teams down. The one problem we’ve thrown at Arsenal’s door for the last two years, they need a striker and every year Mikel chooses not to do that.

‘He goes with Gabby and he goes with Havertz and he thinks they can do it, but in the crunch time, those guys go missing unfortunately and that’s what happened today.’

Six points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool and with their Carabao Cup hopes now hanging by a thread, Arsenal are threatening to endure another trophyless season under Arteta.

‘That was the biggest difference – [being clinical] in the game. In every other aspect, we were the better team,’ a disappointed Arteta said afterwards.

‘They scored two goals and credit to them as they managed to win the game like this. When we missed the chances and conceded the goal it is always tough, but the team reacted.

‘We generated a lot of situations, but it is true, they defended the box very well.

‘We can do better with our decisions. We had a one-v-one chance with the keeper and in a semi-final you have to be clinical.’

Asked whether he believed Arsenal could produce a stunning turnaround in the second leg and reach the final, the Gunners boss added: ‘I have full belief.

‘I have seen my team playing against them – I believe we can do it.’

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