NEWCASTLE TOOK a giant stride towards the League Cup final as goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon earned a 2-0 semi-final, first-leg lead at Arsenal on Tuesday.
The Magpies have never previously won the competition and have had to wait since 1969 to celebrate any major trophy.
But in Isak, they have the form striker in England right now and he rifled home the opener and then helped tee up the second for Gordon.
Arsenal have a mountain to climb when the sides meet for the second leg on 5 February if they are to progress to meet either Tottenham or Liverpool in the final.
The importance of silverware to both clubs was reflected in the line-ups as Mikel Arteta and Eddie Howe named their strongest available teams.
Arteta has brought Arsenal back into contention for Premier League titles in recent seasons, but his only trophy in charge of the Gunners came five years ago by lifting the FA Cup in the early months of his reign.
The home side were able to welcome back Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli from the side that started Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Brighton.
But Arsenal’s lack of a lethal striker like Isak proved the difference between the sides.
Arsenal had the majority of the ball and the chances but failed to make them count.
Martinelli came closest when he raced onto Leandro Trossard’s pass and smashed against the post.
Moments later came the sucker punch. Arsenal, so renowned for their set-piece threat, allowed a long free-kick into their box to fall at the feet of Isak who fired in off the underside of the bar.
The Swede’s 14th goal in his last 15 games took him to 50 in a Newcastle shirt — doing so in five fewer matches than it took the club’s record goalscorer, Alan Shearer.
Isak had a major role to play in what could be a decisive second goal in the tie just after the break.
This time the Newcastle striker’s quick feet allowed him to get a shot off that was parried by David Raya into the path of the onrushing Gordon to fire in the rebound.
Arsenal should still have made their mammoth task for the return leg in Tyneside next month a more manageable one.
Havertz somehow miscued a header wide with the goal gaping to cut the arrears.
Howe replaced Isak and Gordon as Newcastle were happy to just to protect their lead in a 5-5-0 formation for the final 20 minutes.
Arsenal, though, lacked the guile to break them down without the injured Bukayo Saka to seemingly extend their wait for Arteta’s revolution to deliver another trophy.
Howe really has built a proper team. They fight for each other which many teams lack these days. Aggressive and good to watch. Great to see them back to form again and couldn’t fault them silverware at long last.
@Barry Lehane: Was that the final?
@Alan Kennedy: Couldn’t fault them if they win it. Thought that was pretty obvious. My apologies.
@Barry Lehane: it was obvious. Just the readers are generally over sensitive.
Doubt Newcastle stunned them wasn’t suprised myself..isak some player he’s in excellent form..Newcastle by far the better team tonight.
And this, my friends, is why Arsenal will win nothing. Can’t believe there’s people out there who think Arsenal can win something. Maybe they are finally beginning to open their eyes. As I said, Liverpool to beat Newcastle in the final.
@Ray Ridge: Unbelievable prediction yet again from mystic ray! You keep making obvious predictions. You do realise that there are well over 100 teams across the league and cups? With only 1 winner of each. That arsenal team, with Saka, were more than capable of winning one. Far worse teams have won silverware.. that’s sport. Stop patting yourself on back for making nonsense predictions its ridiculous.
@Barry Lehane: Arsenal not winning anything isn’t that obvious a prediction according to some. Indeed, so-called paid pundits even thought Arsenal would win the league. Arsenal will win nothing unfortunately.
@Ray Ridge: those pundits were entitled to their opinion same as yourself. At least their predictions were brave. You seem to just keep predicting teams to do poorly. Or else backing the obvious man city to run away with the league like you did.. how did that turn out? I want to see Ray make some real predictions going forward. Come on man !
Surely you’re not suggesting I should have seen the Man City collapse coming. Come on now, I’m good, but I’m not that bloody good.
@Ray Ridge: “I’m good, but I’m not that bloody good” ………… Cringe.
@Ray Ridge: I’m just raising the bar for ya Ray.. you need to up it a level. I’ll be monitoring! And don’t forget sport is full of surprises.. it’s why we watch it.
Said it before & I’ll say it again, Arsenal are Spursy.
@damien leen: At least Spurs are a half decent watch, Arsenal are awful. That’s 3 pathetic home performances against Everton, Ipswich, and Newcastle. Only 1 goal scored. It’s a very poor league when you see Arsenal in 2nd.
Dire stuff, can we forfeit the 2nd leg? Save us 90 mins. What is give to have an Isak for arsenal. Season is petering out to be honest.