Newcastle United host Arsenal in the second leg of their 2024-25 Carabao Cup semi-final.
With a 2-0 aggregate lead from the first leg, Newcastle will advance to the Final if they avoid defeat although an one-goal loss would be enough to see them progress.
Arsenal however must simply win by a three-goal margin or higher to stand any chance of reaching the final, although a 2-0 win for the Gunners will send the tie to extra time and then potentially a penalty shootout
Team News
Joelinton is a doubt for Newcastle after he suffered a knee injury in their 2-1 Premier League loss at home to Fulham last weekend.
Callum Wilson (hamstring) could return but Harvey Barnes (thigh) and Jamaal Lascelles (knee) remain absent.
Arsenal have no fresh injury concerns to report following their Premier League victory against Manchester City.
Bukayo Saka (hamstring), Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White (all knee) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Newcastle host Arsenal at St James’ Park on Wednesday 5 February at 8pm GMT, live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Newcastle have won one of their five previous meetings against Arsenal in this competition (W1, L4).
- Arsenal won 4-0 on their only previous visit to Newcastle in this competition in October 2010 (W1).
- The winning team in all five previous meetings between Newcastle and Arsenal in this competition kept a clean sheet on each occasion.
- Newcastle have scored first in each of their last eight Carabao Cup matches.
- Arsenal have lost one of their last five Carabao Cup matches away to top-flight opposition (W2, D2, L1).
Prediction
Although their two-goal aggregate lead put them in a favourable position, Newcastle need to bring more intensity and quality than they did in their last two home games and especially after a lacklustre second-half effort against Fulham, where they looked strong in the first half but just lacked the accurate final touches after the break.
Arsenal on the other hand will head to Tyneside on a high after demolishing Man City in a ruthlessly clinical display where they looked in control for much of the game, but they can’t underestimate the Magpies because the first goal is crucial and if they get it then I can see them kicking on and realistically forcing penalties.
Newcastle though are in hot goal-scoring form despite losing their last two home games so a clean sheet is unlikely and that might just be enough for the hosts on aggregate.
Prediction: Newcastle 1-2 Arsenal (Newcastle to win 3-2 on aggregate)
Result: Newcastle 2-0 Arsenal (Newcastle win 4-0 on aggregate)