Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle LIVE RESULT: Gunners left with mountain to climb in Carabao Cup semi-final after superb Toon win
NEWCASTLE have beaten Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final.
The Magpies took the lead against the run of play after the in-form Alexander Isak slammed home on 37 minutes.
Just after half-time, Anthony Gordon doubled Newcastle's lead with a close-range finish to leave the Gunners with a mountain to climb in the second leg on Tyneside.
Arsenal travel to the North East for the return leg on February 5 - and Mikel Arteta’s men are in need of something special.
- Match result: Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle (1st leg)
- Arsenal team: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Partey, Odegaard; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard
- Newcastle team: Dubravka; Livramento, Botman, Burn, Hall; Joelinton, Tonali, Willock; Murphy, Isak, Gordon
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Arteta needs to strengthen for challenge
Despite finishing runners-up to Man City for the last two seasons, North London has not seen a trophy since 2020.
This evening's performance showed that when they strongest isn't available, The Gunners do not have enough creativity or potent scorers in the final third.
If they want to challenge for major honours this season, Mikel Arteta needs to bring in reinforcements in the January transfer window.
Credit: AFP Newcastle with chance to climb
Between now and the second leg, Eddie Howe will change his attentions to the Premier League.
Their run of fixtures are games that they would say are more than winnable to put pressure on those top four places.
It would also mean coming into this second-leg with confiidence sky high to get the job done.
Howe reflects on big London victory
The Newcastle manager looked back at the performance as he gave his thoughts to Sky Sports:
We started on front foot and tried to take the game to them. Then it was about our mentality to defend and we did it really well. We know what's at stake, we put our bodies on the line. This is a tough ground, we have suffered here previously. We still have a tough game ahead at home. We are still going to need to everything right to get through this tie.
Eddie Howe
Man of the moment for Magpies
The one thing Newcastle may have to do this month is bat away enquires about Alexander Isak.
He is one the most in-form strikers in Europe right now and nobody can argue with the stats he is producing.
Rarely does the Swede spurn a chance and his clinical finishing is the envy of many big clubs.
Another man of the match performance from Isak for The Magpies.
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Reuters Boss focussing on positives
Mikel Arteta spoke with Sky Sports after the match, reflecting on how he saw the game this evening.
In any other aspect we were the better team. It was just scoring goals. Obviously when we missed the chances we did, we reacted. They blocked a lot of shots, we can do better. We had a one vs one chance with the keeper, that was the biggest chance of the game. I’ve seen the goal, the ball bounces and he puts it away. We have to disappointed, it is another result they did not deserve.
Mikel ArtetaMagpies spring surprise at Emirates
Newcastle can be proud of their performance in the Carabao Cup semi-final this evening.
They came into the game with nobody giving them a chance and showed what they were all about against The Gunners.
Eddie Howe's side seem to have Arsenal's game sussed out and set themselves up well to counter it.
They can take a lot of confidence from this result when travelling to other big teams in the remainder of the season.
Credit: PA 
Credit: PA Gunners needing too rediscover form
Arsenal have a little break from Premier League duties as Mikel Arteta focusses on a FA Cup tie with Man Utd.
The Spaniard needs to help his side find their mojo once again as they start to blunt in attack.
This result will hurt, the tie is not over, but they have given themselves a mountain to climb next month.
Toon Army relish trip to capital
On a cold winter evening in North London, the travelling Newcastle fans loved every minute of this game.
At a ground they have an abysmal record at, they stuck to their tactics and dealt with Mikel Arteta's men.
They now take a two-goal advantage into the second-leg at an intimidating St James' Park.
Credit: Getty Clueless Arsenal struggle to find groove
A lot has been said about the attacking threat of Mikel Arteta's side but this was another example of quite the opposite.
They dominated possession but when they got into the final third, they seemed to have run out of ideas on how to create goals.
It seems there is far too much of a reliance on set-pieces being their route to goals and run the risk of being found out this season.
Saka's return to fitness cannot come quick enough for The Gunners.
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Credit: EPA
Swede smell of success for Alexander
Speaking with Sky Sports after the game, Newcastle's striker spoke ahead of being given the man of the match award:
I think we have been very solid defensively. Then we have a lot of quality up top. Jacob with the assist for me again. He seems to get in good positions and find me a lot, which is good for me. We came here with the intention to bring a good result home, which we did.
Alexander IsakGunners with time on their hands
Arsenal will have some time to dwell on this result and try to plan how they get back into this semi-final in the return leg.
The match at St James' Park is just under a month from today, with plenty of football to be played inbetween.
It will be a tough ask to go The Magpies' stadium and turn this around, it will be a cauldron of noise for their arrival.
Brazilian carries out orders to perfection
It was easy to see from the first few minutes of the game that Eddie Howe had told Joelinton to track Odegaard wherever he went.
As soon as the ball came into the Norwegian, before he had time to think, Joelinton was all over him.
The Brazilian put in a brilliant peformance, doing a job that often goes unnoticed in the modern game.
Arsenal's playmaker went seriously missing tonight as a result.
FT: Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
It is an impressive win for The Magpies in the capital.
Nobody gave them a chance coming into this game, maybe people are giving this Arsenal side too much credit.
Isak terrified the hosts' defence every minute he spent on the pitch this evening.
FT: Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
The referee brings the game to a close.
Eddie Howe's side had done a real number on The Gunners here in North London.
A deserved win for The Magpies in the capital.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
90+4. The stadium has emptied out like there is a David Ginola tribute on in The Emirates.
Nothing like seeing it through to the end.
It all looks like nothing but desperation from the hosts now.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
90+2. Newcastle are camped out in their own half now.
Jesus looks to square the ball to nobody but fortunately Joelinton puts it behind for a corner.
Chance for that legendary set-piece team to rock up here.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
90. Another hopeful ball is sent into the box.
As it is sliced into the air, Dubravka gathers with a huge cheer from the away end.
This result has certainly made that long trip from Newcastle seem worth it tonight.
We are going to have five added minutes, lord only knows where they get this time from.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
88. Jorginho has a sight of goal but sends his shot high into the stands.
This has been a dreadful display from Arteta's side and they deserve the scoreline to boot.
It is all too predictable and The Magpies have simply played like they have seen this script unfold many times before.
Credit: Getty Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
86. This result and the draw on the weekend will give the rest of the Premier League some confidence when playing The Gunners.
Arsenal win a free-kick in a dangerous position as Almiron fouls Rice.
Odegaard swings the resulting dead ball into the box but it is easily headed away by the visitors.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
84. It is like the old Highbury library in North London again.
Martinelli tries to make something happen as he lifts a ball into the box.
This is just meat and drink to Burn and Botman.
Jesus is penalised for a clear foul in the box but still has a lot to say about the decision.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
82. Time is starting to run out for The Gunners.
The ball is lofted in towards Havertz wide in the box.
He takes it on his chest and tries a shot from a ridiculous angle and it deflects wide for a corner.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
80. It shows the lack of depth Arteta has at Arsenal.
Two-nil down, chasing the game, all he has to bring on is an injury-prone left back.
To his credit he is much more of an attacking threat than he is a defender.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
78. Zinchenko comes on for The Gunners, replacing Lewis-Skelly.
Newcastle look content to hold onto what they have now.
Without Isak on the pitch, there is very little attacking threat.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
76. Joelinton is bundled over by a tag team of Saliba and Jorginho.
They have a lot to say for themselves the Arsenal players when things are not going their way.
Almiron comes on for Gordon for the visitors.
Credit: Getty Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
74. Eddie Howe readies another change on the touchline.
It looks like Miguel Almiron is going to join the action.
Gordon is looking so isolated playing in that centre-forward position whenever The Magpies look to come forward.
