Arsenal’s Carabao Cup hopes ended in disappointment as they suffered a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Wednesday night, sealing a 4-0 aggregate loss in the semi-finals. To make matters worse, forward Gabriel Martinelli was forced off in the first half with a suspected hamstring strain, adding to Mikel Arteta’s growing injury concerns.
The Brazilian was substituted after 37 minutes at St James’ Park, replaced by youngster Ethan Nwaneri. Martinelli’s discomfort was evident as he clutched his hamstring, sparking fears of a prolonged absence. With Gabriel Jesus sidelined for the season and Bukayo Saka still weeks away from returning, Arteta faces a major selection headache in attack.
Speaking after the match, the Arsenal boss confirmed Martinelli will undergo a scan on Thursday to assess the severity of the issue. “He felt something in his hamstring and wasn’t comfortable to continue,” Arteta said. “We’ll have an MRI scan tomorrow to see the extent of the injury.”
Arsenal were already trailing 1-0 on the night and 3-0 on aggregate when Martinelli left the pitch. Newcastle, relentless in their approach, capitalized on their aggressive pressing and swift counterattacks.
Jacob Murphy opened the scoring in the 19th minute before Anthony Gordon sealed the result in the second half, ensuring Eddie Howe’s side booked their place at Wembley.
With Arsenal already eliminated from the FA Cup, their next fixture isn’t until 15 February, when they travel to Leicester City in the Premier League. Meanwhile, Newcastle await the winner of Liverpool vs. Tottenham, with Spurs holding a narrow 1-0 lead ahead of their Anfield showdown.
After the game, a jubilant Howe praised his team’s tactical discipline. “It was a great night for us,” he told Sky Sports. “We wanted to be aggressive, and it worked perfectly. We had to sit back at times, but we were always in control.”