They ended a 14-match winless streak at the home of their opponents with a vital 2-0 win over Arsenal in the first leg of the EFL Cup semi-final.
A quick opening exchanged half-chances between the two, with Kai Havertz and Jurrien Timber coming closest to scoring for Arsenal and Sandro Tonali and Joelinton at the other end looking dangerous for Newcastle. It was a breakthrough in the 37th minute that arrived when Sven Botman flicked on a long free-kick from Martin Dúbravka to Jacob Murphy, who laid their first goal on a plate for Alexander Isak to register his 50th goal in just 89 games for the Magpies.
Arsenal sought an immediate response, but Dúbravka had denied Gabriel Magalhães by then. Newcastle then made it 2-0 six minutes after the break when David Raya could not hold Isak’s effort and, from the rebound, Anthony Gordon shot into the net from almost underneath the crossbar.
Despite late pressure from Arsenal — with William Saliba and Gabriel Martinelli squandering gilt-edged openings — Newcastle’s rear guard remained rock solid. The win was their seventh successive across all competitions with the second leg at the St. James’ Park set up as a likely path to their second EFL Cup final in three seasons and the end of Arsenal’s 13-match unbeaten streak.
