Arsenal vs Newcastle prediction: ENGLAND: EFL Cup betting tips on match 2025-01-06 20:00.
[p]The Carabao Cup takes centre stage in midweek, as Arsenal pause their flailing attempt to secure the Premier League title to take on Newcastle in the first leg of this semi-final tie. The Gunners dropped yet more points in the title race at the weekend when drawing 1-1 against Brighton, although boss Mikel Arteta was quick to point out that the Seagulls needed a “bizarre” penalty to equalise against his side. [/p]
[p]However disappointing that draw may feel, it did serve to extend Arsenal’s unbeaten run to 13 games in all competitions (W9, D4), a positive omen as they search to reach a league cup final for the first time since 2017/18. A 13-match unbeaten home run against Newcastle suggests that’s a distinct possibility (W12, D1), while the fact the last six of those wins came by a 2+ goal margin might give Arsenal hope of taking a healthy lead up to St James’ Park.[/p]
[p]Newcastle certainly won’t be in any mood to allow that to happen, and they’ve already won once in north London across the last seven days, beating Spurs 2-1 on Saturday. The Magpies are one of the form teams in the country at the moment, winning their last six competitive games, so despite their horrific travelling record against the Gunners, they’ll still be in a confident mood. [/p]
[p]Eddie Howe’s men have actually been to a league cup final more recently than their London counterparts too, overcoming one of these two-legged semi finals to reach the 2022/23 showpiece event. They won home and away against Southampton in the semi’s back then, and with just one defeat from their last six travelling games (W4, D1), they’ll be confident of securing a good result to take back to the North East for the second leg. [/p]
[p]Players to watch: Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus jointly tops the Carabao Cup scoring chart this season, with three of his four goals coming after half-time. At the other end of the pitch, Anthony Gordon could be on hand to put out any Arsenal fires as three of his five goals this term made the score 1-1. [/p]
[p]Hot stat: The designated home side hasn’t kept a clean sheet in any of Arsenal’s last seven Carabao Cup games. [/p]
[p][i]Written by Chris Wilson[/i][/p]