Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe said the tie against Arsenal was "finely balanced" despite taking a giant step towards the League Cup final with a 2-0 win on Tuesday.
Goals by Alexander Isak – his 50th for the club – and Anthony Gordon either side of half time in North London gave Newcastle a seventh successive win in all competitions and put them in the driving seat for the second leg at St James' Park in February.
On all eight occasions since 1987/88 that an away team held a two-goal lead from the first leg, that team went on to reach the final and Arsenal have a mountain to climb if they are to keep alive their hopes of a third League Cup triumph.
Howe also took Newcastle to the League Cup final in 2023 but they fell short of a first trophy since 1955 as they were beaten by Manchester United at Wembley.
Newcastle fans celebrated at the final whistle, but Howe urged caution, saying there was still plenty of work left to set up a final against Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur.
"Today is another big step forward when you look at the recent run we've had away from home," Howe told Sky Sports. "We played with real confidence and belief but in terms of the tie it's still very much alive and finely balanced and we have a really tough home leg to come."
Howe admitted his side were creaking in the second half as Arsenal desperately sought a way back, but said he was proud of the way his team defended.
"There was a lot of fatigue in the second half," he said. "We started off on the front foot but then we fatigued and then it was about our mentality to defend. We knew what was at stake and the players put their bodies on the line."
Arsenal were left to rue their failure to convert several good chances with Gabriel Martinelli denied by the woodwork in the first half and Kai Havertz missing a golden opportunity.
Arsenal had been unbeaten in their previous 13 games in all competitions but were not at their best against a clinical Newcastle side who have taken a liking to North London.
Three days ago they won 2-1 at Tottenham to move closer to the Premier League's top four and they returned to send the travelling Toon Army back up north in high spirits.
Isak has been virtually unstoppable of late and he has now scored 10 goals in his last nine appearances for the club.
The Swede lofted one early half-chance over the crossbar but showed how lethal he is after 37 minutes when a long ball into the area fell into his path and he fired the ball high past David Raya into the roof of the net.
It brought up the 25-year-old's half century in just 89 matches for the club, five games fewer than it took Newcastle great Alan Shearer.
"First half he was electric, I thought he played really well. He scored but I just thought his general game was in a really good place," Newcastle manager Eddie Howe said.
Arsenal had threatened with Martinelli curling a shot against the post from the edge of the area and Newcastle were forced into some desperate defending in one goalmouth scramble.
Jurrien Timber also headed over the crossbar from close range for the hosts and Havertz was even more culpable after the break when he somehow failed to connect with a header with the goal gaping, the ball bouncing off his shoulder.
By that time, Newcastle were 2-0 ahead thanks to a tap-in by Gordon in the 50th minute. Jacob Murphy threaded a great pass to Isak in the penalty area and his first-time shot was only parried by Raya for Gordon to sweep in the rebound.
Arsenal, who had 23 shots to Newcastle's seven, piled on the pressure late on to try to reduce the deficit but Newcastle manned the barricades to take a healthy lead to St James' Park.
"In every other aspect we were the better team but it's about scoring goals," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said. "Credit to them, they defended their box very well. We had the chances but at this stage, a semi-final, you have to be clinical."
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
A Cat, A Man, and Two Women
Junichiro Tamizaki
Translated by Paul McCarthy
Daunt Books
Read more about the coronavirus
Super Saturday results
4pm: Mahab Al Shimaal Group 3 | US$350,000 | (Dirt) | 1,200m
Winner: Drafted, Pat Dobbs (jockey), Doug Watson (trainer).
4.35pm: Al Bastakiya Listed | $300,000 | (D) | 1,900m
Winner: Divine Image, Brett Doyle, Charlie Appleby.
5.10pm: Nad Al Sheba Turf Group 3 | $350,000 | (Turf) | 1,200m
Winner: Blue Point, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
5.45pm: Burj Nahaar Group 3 | $350,000 | (D) | 1,600m
Winner: Muntazah, Jim Crowley, Doug Watson.
6.20pm: Dubai City of Gold Group 2 | $300,000 | (T) | 2,410m
Winner: Old Persian, William Buick, Charlie Appleby.
6.55pm: Al Maktoum Challenge Round 3 Group 1 | $600,000 | (D) | 2,000m
Winner: Capezzano, Mickael Barzalona, Salem bin Ghadayer.
7.30pm: Jebel Hatta Group 1 | $400,000 | (T) | 1,800m
Winner: Dream Castle, Christophe Soumillon, Saeed bin Suroor.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Expo details
Expo 2020 Dubai will be the first World Expo to be held in the Middle East, Africa and South Asia
The world fair will run for six months from October 20, 2020 to April 10, 2021.
It is expected to attract 25 million visits
Some 70 per cent visitors are projected to come from outside the UAE, the largest proportion of international visitors in the 167-year history of World Expos.
More than 30,000 volunteers are required for Expo 2020
The site covers a total of 4.38 sqkm, including a 2 sqkm gated area
It is located adjacent to Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai South
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Key figures in the life of the fort
Sheikh Dhiyab bin Isa (ruled 1761-1793) Built Qasr Al Hosn as a watchtower to guard over the only freshwater well on Abu Dhabi island.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Dhiyab (ruled 1793-1816) Expanded the tower into a small fort and transferred his ruling place of residence from Liwa Oasis to the fort on the island.
Sheikh Tahnoon bin Shakhbut (ruled 1818-1833) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further as Abu Dhabi grew from a small village of palm huts to a town of more than 5,000 inhabitants.
Sheikh Khalifa bin Shakhbut (ruled 1833-1845) Repaired and fortified the fort.
Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon (ruled 1845-1855) Turned Qasr Al Hosn into a strong two-storied structure.
Sheikh Zayed bin Khalifa (ruled 1855-1909) Expanded Qasr Al Hosn further to reflect the emirate's increasing prominence.
Sheikh Shakhbut bin Sultan (ruled 1928-1966) Renovated and enlarged Qasr Al Hosn, adding a decorative arch and two new villas.
Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan (ruled 1966-2004) Moved the royal residence to Al Manhal palace and kept his diwan at Qasr Al Hosn.
Sources: Jayanti Maitra, www.adach.ae
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
