It felt different. Newcastle United emerged from the Emirates Stadium with a two-goal lead in the Carabao Cup semi-final, goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon dealing the damage.
Myles Lewis-Skelly stoked the licking flames of a fierce rivalry last weekend, instrumental in humbling Manchester City and contentious in celebrating his goal with Erling Haaland’s trademark.
However, Gordon beat him to it last month, leaning off the corner flag in an emulation of Thierry Henry’s iconic celebration.
Arsenal are one of the finest teams on the continent, but Eddie Howe believes he has their number and will be confident that they can hold them off at St. James’ Park and advance to the tournament’s epilogue.
Newcastle were riding the strong stream of first-class form at that point, Isak firing true from all angles and United bearing fluency and verve that resurrected their fight for top four in the Premier League, put them in this wonderful Carabao Cup position.
Recent results have been less auspicious, with successive home defeats against Bournemouth and Fulham. That needs to change.
Newcastle team news
Nick Pope will be eyeing a return to the grass after his dragged-out injury troubles. The shot-stopper has been an unused substitute for the past two matches but will hope to displace Martin Dubravka for this mammoth match.
Emil Krafth and Callum Wilson may feature, but this one comes too soon for Jamal Lascelles and Harvey Barnes, whose incisive finishing would have been nice against the resilient Gunners.
Winning the midfield battle will be key, and Howe will be delighted to welcome Bruno Guimaraes back to the domestic competition after he missed out in January due to suspension.
Arsenal showed during their recent thrashing of Manchester City that they can play with unfettered brilliance up front when they choose to, and thus it might be crucial for Sven Botman to replace one of Dan Burn or Fabian Schar in central defence.
Why Howe must unleash Sven Botman
Newcastle capped their fine start to the PIF and Howe era with the signing of Botman from LOSC Lille for a £40m fee. It was the dog days of 2022. So began a new chapter, one of genuine promise.
He didn’t disappoint. Not on the field. The issue, instead, has been Botman’s injury record, with the Dutchman’s appearance in black and white stripes something of a rarity over the past two years.
24/25
4
24
23/24
22
28
22/23
44
0
That first campaign, when the Magpies flew over the Champions League walls with a deserved fourth-placed Premier League – beating the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur – the 25-year-old was praised by pundit Leon Osman for his “incredible impact.”
Indeed, he kept 11 clean sheets from 35 fixtures for the division’s joint-best defensive unit and won 68% of his duels across the campaign. Reference point: Virgil van Dijk has won 71% of such battles in the top flight this term.
Arsenal have a wealth of ways to hurt Newcastle, but one of the newest and most dangerous must be the 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who scored against City on Sunday and has been an immense source of potential throughout the campaign.
With seven goals from as many starts for Mikel Arteta’s seniors this season, the England youth is something special, with content creator Lyes Boudizi remarking that he “oozes class with every touch.”
But he’s still young and inexperienced, and though Burn and Schar make a combined age of 65, Botman’s athleticism and energy outstrips theirs while still providing the natural-born ease of a top-class defender.
What about the fact that Botman’s scarcely featured this term? Well, he played in north London one month ago and kept a clean sheet. The Shields Gazette even went as far as to hand the Netherlands native an 8/10 match rating, singling out his ‘heroic defensive effort.’
Tackles flew, clearances were hacked and the air was protected by Botman’s leaping noggin. It was a fine display against a talented Arsenal side who stake their claim to being the best team in the country and served as a measure of Botman’s ability.
Minutes played
90′
Goals conceded
0
Touches
44
Accurate passes
22/29 (76%)
Long balls
1/4
Tackles
1
Clearances
8
Ground duels
1/1
Aerial duels
7/8
Admittedly, Nwaneri’s keen-edged skills aren’t likely to stem from his heading ability, but Botman’s ability to lurch in with crunching challenges and defend with the industrious focus of a machine suggests that he could be the man for the job.
Such aerial ability matches the best (or one of) attributes of the aforementioned Burn, who at 6 foot 7 is a monstrous presence but lacks pace and mobility somewhat.
He usually compensates, but Botman is more complete, more oiled, and will be determined to return to the starting line-up with consistency over the coming months, ensuring Newcastle defeat Arsenal and return to Premier League form as they push for a seat among Europe’s elite next year.
Nwaneri’s fleet-footedness and precocious technical level mean that Toon defenders will need to be on their toes for this one. Howe’s side hold a two-goal advantage but stranger things have happened.
Alongside the exciting Lewis Hall at left-back, Newcastle may well have what it takes. Hall has been brilliant this season, putting in performances that have led reporter Dominic Scurr to describe him as “the best left-back in the country, bar none.”
An assured passer and a calm presence, Nwaneri will have a tough time playing off the right flank, dealing with a perfectly matched defensive duo on the left-hand side.
For sure, United will need to be on their a-game, and what better way to restore their defensive integrity than to place their best defender back in the mix?
Hailed as a “machine” of a centre-back by journalist Jamie Roberts, Botman could be the difference-maker against an Arsenal side clicking into full gear.
The imperious Bukayo Saka may still be sidelined, but in Nwaneri the Hale End production line has fashioned a new prodigy, one who could come up trumps for the visitors.
Chalkboard
Botman’s composure, control and combative nature may serve to neutralise the teenager’s threat, thus paving a road to the final stage, within a stride of the first title in so many years.
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