Kai Havertz endured another difficult night as Arsenal crashed out of the Carabao Cup, with Newcastle securing their place in the final with a commanding performance.Arsenal, already trailing 2-0 from the first leg, needed a strong start at St. James’ Park.
Instead, they found themselves in deeper trouble within 20 minutes when Jacob Murphy extended Newcastle’s lead, igniting the home crowd.
The Gunners struggled to respond and effectively sealed their fate in the 52nd minute when David Raya’s poor pass was intercepted by Fabian Schar, allowing Anthony Gordon to score with ease.
With a 4-0 aggregate defeat, Newcastle advanced to Wembley, where they will face either Liverpool or Tottenham, who meet in the other semi-final at Anfield.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had hoped to reinforce his squad in January but failed to secure a new striker despite a rejected £60 million bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
A stunning 5-1 win over Manchester City temporarily masked their attacking deficiencies, but this latest setback reignited concerns. Havertz’s struggles continued, and Arsenal’s lack of firepower was brutally exposed.Speaking on Sky Sports, Gary Neville emphasized the need for reinforcements.
“This highlights Arsenal’s struggles in attack,” he said. “I supported their decision not to panic-buy in January, but their bid for Watkins sent a clear message—they know they need a striker.
They must address this in the summer.”Arteta admitted his side failed to build the momentum needed for a comeback. “We had big expectations, but conceding early made it difficult,” he said.
“We created some chances but lacked composure in key moments. Newcastle were more clinical, and that was the difference.”As Arsenal’s cup hopes ended in disappointment, the pressure to strengthen their squad—particularly up front—only intensified.