Super Eagles-eligible forward strikes as Newcastle outplay Arsenal to reach Carabao Cup final

In an intense Carabao Cup semifinal second leg, Newcastle triumphed 2-0 over Arsenal, securing a 4-0 aggregate victory, with former England U21 international of Nigerian descent Jacob Murphy playing a pivotal role.

Murphy opened the scoring in the 19th minute with a composed finish, his low drive finding the back of the net after a clever pass into the box. 

The strike proved crucial as it gave Newcastle the early lead and settled their nerves, making it an uphill task for Arsenal.

While Murphy shone in the attack, another forward of Nigerian descent Ethan Nwaneri, made an important contribution as well. 

The 17-year-old came off the bench in the 37th minute, replacing the injured Gabriel Martinelli. 

Nwaneri's introduction came after Martinelli appeared to sustain a painful injury, prompting manager Mikel Arteta to make the substitution. 

Nwaneri's fresh legs added some energy to Arsenal’s attack, and though he came close with a rebound in the 75th minute, his effort was saved by Newcastle goalkeeper Martin Dubravka.

Newcastle, after Murphy’s early goal, doubled their advantage in the 52nd minute when Anthony Gordon capitalized on a defensive error by Arsenal’s David Raya, making it 2-0. 

Despite Arsenal’s efforts to respond, including a late push from Kai Havertz and Declan Rice, Newcastle’s defense stood firm, and they held on to secure the comfortable victory.

Murphy’s goal and Nwaneri’s appearance in the game highlighted the contributions of the Super Eagles-eligible players in this crucial fixture.

Newcastle United will face either Liverpool or Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday, March 16 at Wembley. 

Wale Adejumo

Photo Credit: newcastleunited.com

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