It felt different this time. Newcastle United returned from the Emirates Stadium with a two-goal lead in the Carabao Cup semi-final, thanks to goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.
Myles Lewis-Skelly had already ignited a fierce rivalry last weekend, playing a key role in Manchester City’s humbling and causing a stir with his celebration that mirrored Erling Haaland’s. However, Gordon had already taken a similar approach last month, mimicking Thierry Henry’s iconic celebration by leaning off the corner flag.
Arsenal are one of the continent’s finest teams, but Eddie Howe believes he has a strategy to defeat them. He’ll be confident that his side can hold their ground at St. James’ Park and secure a spot in the final.
At the time, Newcastle were in excellent form, with Isak firing on all cylinders and the team showing fluidity and confidence that reignited their top-four aspirations in the Premier League, which led them to this promising Carabao Cup position.
However, recent performances have been less convincing, with back-to-back home defeats to Bournemouth and Fulham. That trend needs to change.
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Nick Pope is eyeing a return after struggling with prolonged injury issues. He’s been an unused substitute for the last two matches, but he’ll hope to replace Martin Dubravka for this crucial game.
Emil Krafth and Callum Wilson may feature, but Jamal Lascelles and Harvey Barnes are unavailable. Barnes’ sharp finishing could have been useful against Arsenal’s resilient defense.
Winning the midfield battle is key, and Howe will be pleased to have Bruno Guimaraes available again after a suspension kept him out in January.
Arsenal demonstrated their attacking brilliance in their recent win over Manchester City, and it may be essential for Sven Botman to replace either Dan Burn or Fabian Schar in central defense to cope with their threat.
Why Howe Must Unleash Sven Botman
Newcastle’s strong start to the PIF and Howe era was marked by the £40m signing of Botman from LOSC Lille. Despite some injury setbacks, the 25-year-old has been solid when fit.
In his first season, Botman helped Newcastle secure a Champions League spot, earning praise for his “incredible impact” and contributing to the team’s impressive defensive record. He kept 11 clean sheets in 35 matches and won 68% of his duels—comparable to Virgil van Dijk’s 71% win rate this season.
While Arsenal have a variety of attacking threats, one to watch is 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who scored against City and has impressed with his seven goals from as many starts. Despite his youth and inexperience, his skills are a concern, and Botman’s athleticism and defensive prowess could make him the ideal man to handle Nwaneri.
Though Botman has not featured much this season, he played against Arsenal just a month ago and earned high praise for his performance, even receiving an 8/10 rating from The Shields Gazette for his “heroic defensive effort.”
In that match, Botman was solid: he made tackles, clearances, and dominated aerial duels, keeping a clean sheet against a potent Arsenal attack. His ability in the air and his focus make him a natural fit for dealing with threats like Nwaneri, who relies on his speed and technique.
Botman’s versatility and better all-around skills, particularly in pace and mobility compared to Burn and Schar, make him a more complete defender. With Newcastle in need of a return to form, Botman could be the key to defeating Arsenal and pushing for a spot in next year’s European competitions.
Nwaneri’s speed and technical brilliance will challenge Newcastle’s defense, but with Botman’s sharpness and composure, he may be able to neutralize the young star’s influence. Together with the impressive Lewis Hall at left-back, Newcastle’s defense could be more than capable of handling the threat.
Newcastle must bring their best game, and what better way to restore their defensive strength than by bringing their most reliable defender back into the fold? Botman’s calm, combative style could be the difference in neutralizing Arsenal’s attack and moving one step closer to the final and their first title in years.
Imagine him & Hall: Howe could silence Nwaneri by unleashing £40m Newcastle “machine” – opinion
