By Korede James
Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has said his players must be at their best in order to get a result against Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
The Magpies will clash with the Gunners for the second time this season when they square off in the League Cup.
When both teams met in the English Premier League in November, a first half goal by Alexander Isak secured a 1-0 win for Newcastle.
But Howe feels his players must be at their very best if they hope to secure a favourable result in the first leg.
“We’ve got to be really good off the ball and solid defensively. We’ve got to cause Arsenal problems the other way,” he said in his pre-match press conference.
“I don’t think we should overthink it, we just need to get that mix right. Let’s try and continue the good performances we’ve given recently and try and win the game.”
One player the Magpies would be banking on to see off Arsenal is Isak who has been impressive in front of goal.
The Swede has scored six goals in his last four games and has taken his tally in the league this term to 13 in 18 appearances.
“He will naturally [feel like he will score every time he goes on the pitch], when you are on the run of goalscoring games that he is,” Howe said about Isak.
“The team is creating for him, the team is playing in a really good way for Alex and others. Alex is playing his part in that by finishing them off but the team is playing great and creating the chances for him.”
Newcastle have never won the League Cup, falling short in the final in 1976 and 2023.
Arsenal have won the competition twice, in 1987 and 1993.
