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
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
Follow our live blog below...
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
72. Another Arsenal corner comes in, once again, Dubravka punches away.
It is all looking too predictable from Arteta's side.
Newcastle counter-attack but the move breaks down as Barnes stumbles on the ball and inadvertently handles it.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
70. Arsenal have yet to have a shot on target in the second-half.
They continue to pass the ball around but are just not asking enough of the visitors' goal.
This is what cost them on the weekend when Brighton got a draw against them.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
68. You often wonder what can be done in the modern game to stamp out all of the play acting.
The only real answer is to have officials who have something about them to tell them to get up.
Jesus is rolling around after a completely fair tackle and then miraculously is back to his feet when he realises he is not getting a decision.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
66. Both managers are rolling the dice now.
Arteta brings on Jorginho and Jesus for Partey and Trossard.
Howe brings on Longstaff, Barnes and Kelly who replace Willock, Isak and Murphy.
Credit: Getty Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
64. Rice makes a driving run towards the penalty area.
He looks to get a left-footed shot off but it is well blocked by former Gunner Willock.
The Newcastle midfielder did well tracking the run there.
The resulting corner picks out Saliba with a completely free header at the back post but sends it sailing over the crossbar.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
62. You wonder whether Dubravka has both teams to score on an acca right now.
As a cross comes in, Rice misses it but it strikes his standing leg and heads towards the keeper.
Instead of diving on it, he tries to kick it clear and it hits the Arsenal midfielder and heads towards goal.
Botman is there to help his keeper out but the assistant then raises his flag for an offside which must have occurred in the last 12 months.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
60. Willock comes bursting forward with the ball.
As he looks to dribble it into the penalty area, a poor touch gifts the ball to Gabriel.
The Newcastle midfielder tries to win it back but fouls the defender in the process.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
58. Arteta looks ready to make some changes.
Unless he has Pires and Bergkamp on the bench you wonder what he can do to change this game.
Just as he prepares his changes Havertz misses the biggest sitter of the night.
The German has a free header in the middle, four yards out.
Somehow, he heads it wide of the target.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
56. Rice swings in a free-kick from a wide position.
Newcastle hold their line and The Gunners just all run into offside positions.
You start to wonder whether Arteta's side are just too predictable right now.
Credit: Reuters
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
54. Arsenal swing in another corner towards the back post but Dubravka punches it away.
For The Magpies now it is all about game management.
They can frustrate the hosts by just passing it around and making them chase shadows.
Arsenal 0-2 Newcastle
52. Arsenal just have not dealt with Isak at all tonight.
He is involved once again as he plays it out wide and then makes a run into the box, looking for it back.
The Swede gets a shot away but Raya gets down well to save but Gordon is there to tap home the rebound.
This Gunners' defence is looking very overrated.
Goal - Anthony Gordon (Newcastle)
Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
50. The Magpies seem happy for Arsenal to have possession.
It is almost like they are inviting them to try and break them down.
Trossard plays the ball into Martinelli in the box but his cross just finds a defender and it is cleared.
Isak's goal remains to be the difference between the sides.
Credit: Getty Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
48. As Newcastle play it back to Dubravka, the hosts put him under pressure.
The keeper opts to kick it out of play rather than try an elaborate pass.
Chance for Arsenal to try and create something in the final third.
Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
46. Raya looks to go long, looking for Havertz.
As he tries to get it under control he goes down.
No claims for a foul on this occasion from the hosts.
Kick-off: Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
We are back underway at The Emirates.
This two-legged semi-final is finely poised.
The Gunners get the game restarted.
HT: Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
We can expect to see a lot more from the hosts.
They will not want to go to St James' Park trailing.
Arteta will be rallying his troops.
HT: Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
The Gunners have had their fair share of chances in this game.
Martinelli should have opened the scoring before The Magpies punished them with Isak's goal.
Arteta needs to get his side to take it up a gear after the interval.
HT: Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
The referee brings the first-half to a close.
All has gone according to plan for the visitors.
Arsenal have it all to do after the break.
Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
45. Poor free-kick from Odegaard as he strikes it straight into the wall.
The Gunners recycle it well and loft another ball towards the back post.
Gabriel strikes it but Dubravka does well to make himself big and block the attempt.
We are going to have two added minutes.
Credit: AFP Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
43. This is a huge chance for The Gunners.
A free-kick, just outside the box, in the middle of the goal.
They have to work Dubravka from here.
Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
41. That was certainly one for The Gunners' set-piece coach.
Not sure he works so much on his team being opened up quite like The Magpies did there.
Arsenal come forward and Partey throws himself down in a ridiculous theatrical fashion and the referee buys it, booking Joelinton also.
Arsenal 0-1 Newcastle
39. Arsenal's supposed solid defence is opened up like an out of date can of tuna.
The ball is flicked on from the free kick and Murphy brings it down as the static Gunners defence ball-watches.
It runs into the path of Isak who slots past Raya to break the deadlock.
Goal - Alexander Isak (Newcastle)
Arsenal 0-0 Newcastle
37. Trossard is penalised for a foul in the middle of the park.
He cannot believe the referee's decision there, to be fair, if it had been him, he would still be rolling around on the floor.
Great play by Hall as he took the ball away from three Arsenal players.