Newcastle vs Arsenal Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2024-25 English League Cup | Semi-Final

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The first-leg of this EFL Cup semi-final saw Newcastle United defeat Arsenal by two goals to nil at the Emirates Stadium as the Magpies chase a second final appearance in just three seasons.

Kick-off date/time: Wednesday 5th February, 2025: UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm

How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – Not televised

How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Paramount+

Newcastle Preview: Slight dip in form

That aforementioned 2-0 win over Arsenal a month ago was a part of a nine-match winning streak across all competitions but that has recently been ended by two defeats in their last three matches with those two defeats coming at St James’ Park.

They were beaten 4-1 by AFC Bournemouth a few weeks ago before having to come from behind to defeat bottom-of-the-table Southampton at St Mary’s and then losing 2-1 at home to Fulham in a game in which they did lead from 37th minute to around the hour mark.

Arsenal Preview: Impressive Gunners at the weekend

Those defeats, especially the 4-1 loss to Bournemouth with Arsenal needing to overturn a two-goal deficit, will give the Gunners some major encouragement ahead of this week. They also come into this one on the back of arguably their best performance of the Mikel Arteta era.

The north Londoners annihilated defending Premier League champions Manchester City by five goals to one. That loss to Newcastle in the first-leg is their only defeat inside 90 minutes in their last 21 matches across all competitions.

Newcastle Team News: Joelinton unlikely to play

Brazil international Joelinton has been seen in a knee brace and Eddie Howe has said that he is a ‘doubt’ for this one despite that itself being ‘a precaution’. They have a few definite and confirmed absentees such as captain Jamaal Lascelles, Harvey Barnes and Callum Wilson.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Dubravka; Livramento, Botman, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali, Longstaff; Murphy, Isak, Gordon

Unavailable: Lascelles (Injured), Barnes (Injured), Wilson (Injured)

Questionable: Joelinton (Injured)

Arsenal Team News: Attacking injuries

Mikel Arteta was keen on bringing in an attacker during the January transfer window but they didn’t despite both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus remaining unavailable due to injury, whilst defenders Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu continue to build their fitness levels back up.

Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Trossard, Havertz, Martinelli

Unavailable: White (Fitness), Tomiyasu (Fitness), Saka (Injured), Jesus (Injured)

Questionable: 

Newcastle vs Arsenal Prediction

The potential absence of Joelinton, even if he is able to make an appearance as a substitute, could be an enormous blow for Newcastle as they come up against an Arsenal side that appeared to find their groove in the final third of the pitch after a couple of months of profligacy. That aforementioned run of just one loss in their last 21 matches for the Gunners began after back-to-back defeats against Internazionale and, of course, Newcastle at St James’ Park in early November. The hosts will be confident of scoring and that should be enough to see them through but Arsenal will have to throw the kitchen sink at some point during the match so both teams scoring does feel quite likely. 

Newcastle vs Arsenal Tip: Both teams to score