Newcastle have won their last two home games against Arsenal, seeking three successive victories over the Gunners at St James' Park for the first time in 29 years.
The only previous League Cup encounter between the pair on Tyneside produced a 4-0 Arsenal win in 2010. The Magpies need something similarly as emphatic here.
Newcastle United vs Arsenal Preview
Following a comprehensive victory in North London four weeks ago, Newcastle United are simply seeking to finish the job, surely set to rubber stamp their place at Wembley.
A month ago, goals either-side of half time from Alexander Isak and then Anthony Gordon saw the Magpies claim a potentially unassailable first leg advantage.
Arsenal paid the price for missed opportunities; Gabriel Martinelli thwacking the post and Kai Havertz skewing a header wide in particular.
So, will it be a night of celebration for those in the Northeast, or can Arsenal produce a miraculous comeback? Well, considering 29 of the 31 sides who've previously won the first leg of a League Cup semi-final away from home have reached the final, the former appears exponentially more likely.
However, Newcastle supporters may come into this huge night a little nervy, given that their side have suffered back-to-back home defeats.
Following a 4-1 drubbing at the hands of Bournemouth, Eddie Howe's side were beaten again at St James' on Saturday, this time defeated 2-1 by Fulham, despite taking a first half lead through Jacob Murphy.
The Toon Army haven't endured three consecutive home defeats for almost exactly four years, back when Steve Bruce was manager during the behind-closed-doors season.
In the Premier League, the Magpies remain fifth, thereby occupying the final Champions League spot, but silverware is what this fan base craves above all else, so will they reach a second Carabao Cup Final in just three seasons, desperate to end their 70-year wait for domestic silverware?
For Arsenal, they obviously have a mountain to climb, but the 4,883 supporters making the 274 mile journey north on Wednesday will do so with a renewed sense of hope and optimism.
That's because, on Sunday, the Gunners humbled and humiliated Manchester City, smashing the champions 5-1; Martin Ødegaard broke the deadlock inside two minutes, before Thomas Partey, Kai Havertz and Hale End teenagd duo Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri were all on target during a second half annihilation.
This is the first time since 1963 that Arsenal have scored five against the reigning champions and, more crucially, it just about keeps them in touch with leaders Liverpool, now unbeaten in 14 league games, their longest streak since 2018.
After this, Mikel Arteta's team will be jetting off to Dubai, given that it's ten days until their next fixture, so can they pull off a comeback for the ages, or will the first leg deficit prove to be a bridge too far?
Newcastle United vs Arsenal Head-to-Head Record
- Matches Played: 195.
- Newcastle United Wins: 71. Draws: 39. Arsenal Wins: 85.
Newcastle United Team News
Eddie Howe's starting lineups remains very settled, but he does have a big decision to make in goal. Martin Dúbravka has started the last 12 matches, keeping seven clean sheets, but Nick Pope has been back on the bench for the last two matches following a knee injury, so will the Englishman be restored here, or perhaps at Birmingham in the FA Cup on Saturday?
Out-field, the only position potentially up for grabs is at centre-back, where Fabian Schär and Dan Burn got the nod against Fulham, but Sven Botman will feel he should come back into the defence. Jamaal Lascelles, Jamal Lewis, Harvey Barnes and Callum Wilson remain sidelined.
Newcastle United predicted lineup vs Arsenal: (4-2-3-1): Dúbravka; Livramento, Schär, Botman, Hall; Tonali, Guimarães, Joelinton; Murphy, Gordon, Isak.
Newcastle United Players to Watch vs Arsenal
Alexander Isak has 19 goals to his name this season, one of which broke the deadlock in the first leg, while he has scored seven goals in his last ten appearances at St James' Park, including the only goal when Arsenal visited in October.
Arsenal Team News
With no Takehiro Tomiyasu, Benjamin White, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus nor any new signings, Mikel Arteta is set to name a very similar side to the one that smashed Man City on Sunday.
Many supporters wanted to see Ethan Nwaneri start at the weekend, underlining why when he came off the bench to curl home a stunner in stoppage time, so will he get the nod on the right, with either Leandro Trossard or Gabriel Martinelli dropping out? That aside, no changes are likely, now that fans' favourite Myles Lewis-Skelly is the undisputed first-choice left-back, usurping Riccardo Calafiori.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Newcastle United: (4-2-3-1): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly; Rice, Partey, Ødegaard; Martinelli, Trossard, Havertz.
Arsenal Player to Watch vs Newcastle United
Martin Ødegaard is the last Arsenal player to score at St James' Park, on target in a 2-0 victory in May 2023, and if the Gunners harbour any hopes of a comeback, the Norwegian will need to be at his best.
Newcastle United vs Arsenal Prediction
We cannot see Arsenal pulling off the miraculous turnaround, with Newcastle doing more than enough to reach next month's EFL Cup Final: Newcastle United 1-1 Arsenal.
Newcastle United vs Arsenal FAQs - Carabao Cup
How to watch Newcastle United vs Arsenal Carabao Cup game on TV channel?
Newcastle United vs Arsenal Carabao Cup game will be available on the following TV channels;
- UK: Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Football & Ultra HD
- USA: Paramount+
- Canada: DAZN Canada
How to watch Newcastle United vs Arsenal Carabao Cup game on live streaming?
Newcastle United vs Arsenal Carabao Cup game will be available on the following streaming services;
- UK: SkyGo & NOW TV
- USA: Paramount+
- Canada: DAZN Canada
What is the date and kick-off time for Newcastle United vs Arsenal in the Carabao Cup?
Newcastle United vs Arsenal takes place on Wednesday 5 February 2025, with kick off at 20:00 (GMT), 15:00 (EDT) & 12:00 (PST).