Newcastle United took a big step toward ending their nearly 70-year wait for a major domestic trophy with an impressive 2-0 win over Arsenal in the first leg of the English League Cup semifinals. The match, held on Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium, marked a historic night for Newcastle as they edged closer to the final at Wembley Stadium, set for March. The decisive second leg will take place at St James’ Park on February 5.

The victory was fueled by goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon. Isak opened the scoring in the 37th minute, showcasing his red-hot form by netting his 14th goal in just 15 games. The Swedish striker’s sharpness was also instrumental in Newcastle’s second goal early in the second half. His shot was saved by Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya, but Gordon was quick to pounce on the rebound and bury it in the back of the net.

This was a landmark win for Newcastle, as it marked their first triumph at the Emirates since 2010 and handed Arsenal their first home defeat since April. It also extended Newcastle’s remarkable run of form, making it seven straight wins across all competitions under manager Eddie Howe.

Despite Arsenal’s strong start to the game, including Gabriel Martinelli hitting the post in the 29th minute, and Kai Havertz missing a golden header opportunity later on, Newcastle remained composed and capitalized on their chances. The victory highlights Newcastle’s growing confidence and consistency, which have been boosted by Isak’s incredible goal-scoring streak—seven goals in his last five games.

Arsenal, sitting second in the Premier League standings and unbeaten in 13 games before this match, struggled to find their rhythm against a well-organized Newcastle side. Meanwhile, Newcastle’s ambitions extend beyond this cup run—they are pushing hard for a return to the Champions League and currently sit fifth in the Premier League, just one point shy of an automatic qualification spot.

The historic significance of this match cannot be overstated. Newcastle, now backed by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund since 2021, is determined to end its long trophy drought—their last major domestic title was the FA Cup back in 1955. While they reached the League Cup final as recently as 2023, they fell short against Manchester United. This time, however, they look poised for another shot at glory.

Fans of the Magpies will be eagerly awaiting February 5 when Newcastle hosts Arsenal for the second leg at St James’ Park. With their current momentum and star players like Isak leading the charge, Newcastle is closer than ever to rewriting their history.

Meanwhile, in the other semifinal clash, Tottenham will face Liverpool in their first-leg matchup at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday.