Arsenal still alive in Carabao Cup despite Newcastle defeat

Arsenal might have lost the first leg of its Carabao Cup tie 2-0 to Newcastle, but it is still alive in the tie...just.

Arsenal was undone by a ruthlessly efficient Newcastle side in its 2-0 loss in the Carabao Cup at the Emirates, leaving the Gunners' hopes of claiming the trophy hanging by a thread.

The Gunners had multiple chances to take the lead, with Jurrien Timber's header from point-blank range going over the bar, and Gabriel Martinelli's shot hitting the upright after being sent clean through by Leandro Trossard, but they couldn't convert.

Newcastle, on the other hand, did - twice.

With the home leg now done and dusted, the Gunners face the mammoth task at overturning the deficit at St. James' Park next month and will need to score at least three goals to avoid overtime and hope the Magpies are so clinical in front of goal.

But while the task looks difficult, we can still be rather upbeat about the seconds leg due to the sheer number of chances we created. Do that again and the result could be vastly different,

It is a tough result to take for Arsenal, after having periods of domination, but Newcastle, with Alexander Isak in sublime form, were able to tuck away two goals to take complete control of the contest.

While Arsenal managed 23 shots in the game to the Magpies' seven, that is a tad misleading given that once Anthony Gordon's shot went in at the 51-minute mark, Eddie Howe's team set up shop.

For all their huffing and puffing, the Gunners couldn't half the deficit and now have it all to to at a ground where they don't always play their best football.

But color us skeptical on Arsenal's ability to advance.

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