Eddie Howe lauded Newcastle United’s impressive 2-0 win over Arsenal in the League Cup semi-final, describing it as a “huge” achievement for the club as they prepare for their second Wembley final in three seasons.
Playing in front of a passionate St James’ Park crowd on Wednesday night, Jacob Murphy’s first-half goal and Anthony Gordon’s second-half strike secured a 4-0 aggregate victory over the Gunners.
This win sends Newcastle to the final on March 16, where they will face Liverpool or Tottenham, aiming to claim their first major trophy since 1969.
Howe: ‘We’ve Come a Long Way’
Reflecting on the team’s progress, Howe acknowledged how the pain of last year’s Wembley defeat to Manchester United in the final would serve as motivation.
> “It is huge. The first appearance there was a bit unexpected, but we want to be there regularly, so it’s not a surprise this time. Hopefully, we can learn from the last experience. We have come a long way since then, and I would love to think we can go to Wembley and perform better.”
Newcastle, whose last domestic silverware came in the 1955 FA Cup, showed confidence and tactical discipline to finish the job after winning the first leg 2-0 at the Emirates.
Tactical Masterclass from Howe
Newcastle dominated Arsenal with an impressive defensive setup, as Sweden striker Alexander Isak and England winger Gordon delivered outstanding performances.
Howe revealed he adjusted his tactics, switching to a back five to counter Arsenal’s set-piece strength.
“It was a great night for us. The intention was to be aggressive, and sometimes that doesn’t always work. Today it did.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted his side lacked efficiency in front of goal and were ultimately punished by Newcastle’s precision.
“They have been more efficient than us in the boxes, and that is the difference in the tie,” Arteta conceded.
Arsenal Left Frustrated as Focus Shifts to Premier League
This defeat is a setback for Arsenal, who are six points behind league leaders Liverpool and have already been eliminated from the FA Cup.
With a Champions League last-16 tie ahead, Arteta’s team will travel to Dubai for a training camp before returning to action against Leicester on February 15.
“Today is painful, but tomorrow is a different day,” Arteta said.
Meanwhile, Newcastle will discover their Wembley opponents on Thursday as Tottenham defend their 1-0 first-leg lead at Anfield against Liverpool.
