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Key events
Team news
Eddie Howe has made two changes from the defeat to Fulham: Kieran Trippier and Sven Botman come in for Tino Livramento and the injured Joelinton. The inclusion of Botman suggests a switch to three centre-backs, though that’s very unlike Eddie Howe. It might be that Fabian Schar moves into midfield.
Arsenal are unchanged.
Newcastle (possible 5-2-3) Dubravka; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Hall; Guimaraes, Tonali; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.
Substitutes: Pope, Wilson, Targett, Krafth, Osula, Livramento, Willock, Longstaff, Miley.
Arsenal (possible 4-3-3) Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Odegaard, Partey, Rice; Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard.
Substitutes: Setford, Calafiori, Zinchenko, Tierney, Kiwior, Jorginho, Merino, Sterling, Nwaneri.
Referee Simon Hooper.
“It is going to be another battle and we know how difficult it is to play there. But we have an amazing team and we trust ourselves. We have full confidence in our squad.”
The small print
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The tie will go to extra time if necessary, then penalties
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There’s no away goals rule
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VAR is being used
Preamble
As well as being a terrifyingly long time in politics, a month is also a long time in football. When Newcastle won 2-0 at the Emirates in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final, they looked nailed on to reach their second final in three years. Alexander Isak was Europe’s hottest striker, Newcastle were on a run of seven straight wins and Mikel Arteta was being openly ridiculed for talking balls.
Fast forward four weeks and the landscape looks very different. Newcastle have lost their last two games at home, including a 4-1 shellacking by Bournemouth, and Arsenal are high on life after thrashing Manchester City 5-1 on Sunday.
Newcastle are still favourites to progress and move within one game of immortality upon the Tyne. But if any team can head up north for a big game, knowing they need to win by at least two goals, and get the job done, it’s Arsenal.
Kick off 8pm. A place in the Carabao Cup final is up for grabs.
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