Alexander Isak celebrates scoring Newcastle United's first goal during the first leg of an English League Cup semifinal match against Arsenal at Emirates Stadium, London, on Tuesday. Newcastle takes a 2-0 advantage into next month's second leg. REUTERS
LONDON — Newcastle took a giant stride toward the League Cup final, as goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon earned their side a 2-0 semifinal first-leg win at Arsenal on Tuesday.
The Magpies, who have not won a major trophy since 1955, will now be clear favorite to complete the job in the second leg on Tyneside next month.
In Isak, Newcastle has the form striker in England right now, and he rifled home the opener before helping tee up the second for Gordon.
Arsenal has a mountain to climb when the sides meet for the second leg on Feb 5 if it is to progress to meet either Tottenham or Liverpool in the final.
"It's massive. It's a great result, but it's only the first half," said Isak after Newcastle's seventh consecutive win, and its first at the Emirates since 2010.
"If we don't go through, then this has no meaning."
The importance of silverware to both clubs was reflected in the lineups, 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, when his side lifted the FA Cup in the early months of his reign.
The host was 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.
"That was the biggest difference in the game. In every other aspect, we were the better team," said Arteta on his side's wasted chances.
"I have full belief. I have seen my team playing against them. I believe we can do it!"
Martinelli came closest when he raced onto Leandro Trossard's pass and smashed the ball against the post.
The sucker punch came moments later. Arsenal, so renowned for its own set-piece threat, allowed a long freekick into its box to fall at the feet of Isak, who fired the ball 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 — achieving the milestone in five fewer matches than the club's record goalscorer Alan Shearer.
Newcastle United's Alexander Isak congratulates fellow goalscorer Anthony Gordon during a League Cup semifinal against Arsenal on Tuesday. REUTERS
Just after the break, Isak also played a major role in what could be a decisive second goal in the tie.
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, who fired in the rebound.
Arsenal should still have made its 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, with Newcastle happy to just to protect its lead in a 5-5-0 formation for the final 20 minutes.
Isak has been virtually unstoppable of late, and he has now scored 10 goals in his last nine appearances for the club.
The Swede lofted one early half-chance over the crossbar, but showed how lethal he is with his 37th-minute blast.
It brought up the 25-year-old's half century in just 89 matches for the club.
"In the first half he was electric, I thought he played really well. He scored, but I just thought his general game was in a really good place," Newcastle manager Howe said.
"We played with real confidence and belief, but the tie is still very much alive, and we have a really tough home leg to come."
Howe said he was proud of the way his team defended.
"There was a lot of fatigue in the second half. We knew what was at stake, and the players put their bodies on the line."
Arsenal was unbeaten in 13 games in all competitions, and is second in the Premier League standings.
Arsenal, who had 23 shots to Newcastle's seven, piled on the pressure late on to try to reduce the deficit, but Newcastle manned the barricades to take a healthy lead back home to St James' Park.
"It's about scoring goals," Arteta said.
"Credit to them, they defended their box very well. We had the chances, but at this stage, a semifinal, you have to be clinical."
Agencies
