Newcastle 0-0 (2-0) Arsenal LIVE: Magpies begin Carabao Cup semi-final second leg with advantage as Gunners push for incredible comeback

Kick-off!

We're underway in the Carabao Cup semi-final second leg!

Can Newcastle book their place at Wembley?

Or will Arsenal come from 2-0 down to incredibly turn this tie around and reach the final?

The atmosphere inside St. James' Park is incredible; there are scarves being waved by every fan, filling it with black and white.

As the players walked out, they were met with a huge roar.

The hosts may not be playing in a back five after all, as Lewis Hall seems to be slotting into a midfield role.

Stuart Pearce live on talkSPORT: "We're hearing the rumour that Hall won't be in defence, he'll be playing as part of the midfield."

Live on talkSPORT

It's now only 10 minutes from kick-off!

And here's a reminder that you can tune into this Carabao Cup semi-final second leg live on talkSPORT.

Coverage of the game is being presented by Adrian Durham. 

Commentary from St. James’ Park will be coming from Sam Matterface and former England captain Stuart Pearce.

To tune in to talkSPORT or talkSPORT 2 through the website, click HERE for the live stream. 

You can also listen via the talkSPORT app, on DAB digital radio, through your smart speaker and on 1089 or 1053 AM.

'Full gas'

Mikel Arteta wants his side to go all out to turn this Carabao Cup semi-final around and reach the final.

He has looked back on how the feeling inside the Arsenal squad was before the first leg compared to ahead of this game.

“When you compare the emotional state of the team straight after the defeat and the manner that it happened and how we are, today is very different," Arteta said.

“Because we come from very strong performances, some great wins and especially the last one at home against Man City. 

“So, keep this momentum and after this game, we'll have a break so it’s the moment to go full gas, ready to go for it and try to approach it in the way that we believe is the best one to be in that final.”

Special guest

Ah, now this is brilliant.

One of Newcastle's mascots for their huge game tonight is the son of the late Toon midfielder Cheick Tiote.

Tiote sadly passed away in June 2017 aged 30.

The Ivorian was well-loved by fans while at the club and he'll always be remembered for his iconic volley against Arsenal.

It's the 14th anniversary of that incredible goal today, so it's nice to see Newcastle hand this opportunity to Tiote's son.

Backed all the way

Newcastle boss Eddie Howe has called on the Toon supporters to create a special atmosphere this evening.

On the impact the fans are going to have, he said: "I think [our success] has been a combination of us and the crowd.

"I think we’ve become a really potent team together and that is what we are going to need in this game.

"We are going to need to engage all our supporters in our energy and our body language, we need to make this a formidable environment for our opponent. 

“It is our duty to do that."

Match facts

'We're going to give it a real go'

Mikel Arteta is confident of his Arsenal side leaving everything out there tonight as the look to mount a comeback.

They trail 2-0 after losing at home in the first leg, putting them in a very tough position at St. James' Park.

But after a 5-1 win over Man City at the weekend, the Gunners will be feeling they can pull off an incredible turnaround.

Arteta said: "The next stop is a final in Wembley so we know how big that is and you can feel it.

"We're excited, willing, hungry and enthusiastic because we are very close to playing a final, and hopefully we can achieve that.”

He added: “The boost the game against City gave us, the manner that we won it, and the fact that it is a game in the competition where we are closest to a final.

“So we're going to give it a real go.”

Don't concede early

Newcastle legend Alan Shearer has revealed the main thing he doesn't want to see happen to his beloved club tonight.

Shearer said on the Rest is Football podcast: “I’ve already said to a couple of my pals that the one thing we don’t want is Arsenal to score early because I bet the tension around the ground would be off the charts.

“It definitely would concern me because the previous home game against Bournemouth they got battered and they didn’t deserve anything against Fulham.

“Another home game, a really important one but they have got a 2-0 lead going into this one which is slightly different.

“There’s not going to be a question of are they going to be up for it, the atmosphere will be off the charts.

"But what is key is not conceding an early goal.”

Team news!

The team news for tonight's second leg is in!

Joelinton is not fit to feature for Newcastle who look as if they're going to be sitting back this evening.

Eddie Howe appears to be playing with a five-at-the-back formation, with Dan Burn, Fabian Schar and Sven Botman all starting.

This is only the fifth time under Howe in all competitions that the Magpies are starting with a back three/five.

Callum Wilson is on the bench looking to make his first appearance for the club since December 7.

As for Arsenal, they're unchanged from their 5-1 win over Manchester City as Myles Lewis-Skelly starts again.

The Gunners are still missing Bukayo Saka, Ben White, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Jesus through injury.

Newcastle XI: Dubravka, Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn, Hall, Tonali, Guimaraes, Murphy, Gordon, Isak.

Subs: Pope, Targett, Livramento, Krafth, Longstaff, Miley, Willock, Osula, Wilson.

Arsenal XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Lewis-Skelly, Partey, Rice, Odegaard, Martinelli, Trossard, Havertz.

Subs: Setford, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Calafiori, Tierney, Jorginho, Merino, Sterling, Nwaneri.

Long-awaited return

Newcastle look set to welcome Callum Wilson back from injury.

The striker has only made four appearances this season after a series of setbacks, but he has back been in full training with the squad this week.

And he's arrived at St. James' Park for tonight's big game.

He's unlikely to start with Alexander Isak having an incredible season, but his return will provide some quality depth.

Eddie Howe has struggled for options up front this campaign, so to have Wilson back is a massive boost.

Official team news is coming up very soon...

Up for the cup

This is a massive game for both Newcastle and Arsenal as they look to end their trophy droughts.

Admittedly, the Magpies' is a whole lot longer, with the club not winning anything major since 1955.

They came close in this competition in 2023 but unfortunately lost to Manchester United in the final.

Meanwhile, Arsenal haven't won a major trophy since the 2019/20 FA Cup - unless you count the Community Shield.

They've only won the League Cup twice in their history and last lifted this particular trophy in the 1992/93 campaign.

Mikel Arteta will want to add another to his cabinet, but his side have a tough task to come back to win tonight.

Semi-final night

Hello and welcome to talkSPORT.com's live coverage of Newcastle vs Arsenal in their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg!

The Magpies hold a vital 2-0 lead heading into the return leg at St James' Park thanks to goals from Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon.

Eddie Howe's men are the only away team to win at the Emirates this season (excluding extra-time and penalties), while they've already beaten Arsenal at home in the Premier League.

However, since the last leg, a lot has changed for both clubs, and the Toon have actually lost both of their last two home games to Bournemouth and Fulham, respectively.

Meanwhile, the Gunners cruised through the Champions League League Phase and smashed Manchester City 5-1.

So, Mikel Arteta's men will be heading to Tyneside full of confidence.