Arsenal (H) Pre-match thoughts, team news, possible line up and prediction

This is undoubtedly the biggest game of our season so far, not just due to our 70-year wait for a domestic trophy but after back-to-back home defeats that has seen us drop down to sixth.

Saturday's 2-1 defeat to Fulham was hugely disappointing and well below what we've come to expect, adding to the anxiety around our semi-final second leg just before Arsenal battered Man City 5-1 on Sunday.

Feeling nervous? So am I - but this stat may give some encouragement ahead of Wednesday night's decider:

Before this season, there have been 32 instances of a side losing the first leg of a League Cup Semi-final by a margin of two or more goals (as Arsenal did against Newcastle this term). Only one of those have progressed to the Final, with Aston Villa overturning a 3-1 first leg deficit against Tranmere in 1993/94.

We are in a superb position in the tie and Arsenal have it all to do. Hopefully the players are at it, the atmosphere is electric and Eddie Howe can get his game plan right, with the 2-0 score line a tough one to navigate. We must get the balance right between protecting our lead and attacking Arsenal at the other end.

Howe’s pre-match comments

Howe on Fulham defeat - "It’s time to put that game away, focus now on the future. We have a massive game and massive incentive, we learnt our lessons and we know we can do better, but we are now focused on this next one."

Howe's rallying call to players and fans - "My message is, we are at the halfway point in the tie. Against any opposition the game is still very much alive. We have to approach the game in a really positive and aggressive way, try and be ourselves, there will be no deviation from that. We are in a good position and need to make the most of every opportunity."

"Us and the crowd have become a really potent team together and that's what we're going to need. We're going to need to absolutely engage all our supporters in our energy and body language and use every power we possess to involve them. We need to make this a formidable environment for our opponent. It is our duty to do that."

Howe on Joelinton's injury - "Joey had a knee brace on as a precaution. I would say he is a doubt, but we will give him every chance to be fit. Our centre midfield, we have good strength in depth - Sean Longstaff, Lewis Miley and Joe Willock – they all bring something different."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0L-r15o7F9s

Team news

Joelinton is a "doubt", but the protective knee brace worn over the weekend was a precautionary move, with Howe set to give him "every chance" of recovering in time.

Callum Wilson (hamstring) has a "chance" of being back in the squad after returning to training, but Harvey Barnes (thigh) will miss out again along with Jamaal Lascelles (ACL).

For Arsenal, David Raya is fit after returning in Sunday's 5-1 win over Man City, but Bukayo Saka remains out along with Gabriel Jesus and Ben White. Former Mag Mikel Merino could feature.

Predicted line-up

(4-3-3): Dubravka – Trippier, Botman, Burn, Hall - Bruno, Tonali, Joelinton - Murphy, Isak, Gordon.

There'll be one forced change if Joelinton doesn't make it, meaning one of Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock or Lewis Miley would step in, but we'll have to hope the big man can recover in time.

At centre-back, I think Fabian Schar will come out of the side after a few slack displays, seeing us return to the pairing that kept a clean sheet at Arsenal in Sven Botman and Dan Burn. If backs are against the walls and we're needing to throw bodies in the way to see out the tie, they proved more than capable of that with gigantic displays at the Emirates last month.

Then at right-back, I've suggested this before and been wrong but I wouldn't be surprised if Howe opts for Kieran Trippier's experience and calmness, which could come in handy in such a big game. Livramento has struggled in our last two home games and looked off the pace on Saturday, so his spot in the side could be under threat.

Match prediction

The first goal in this feels absolutely huge. As Howe has said, we have to play our normal game and attack Arsenal, as sitting deep too early risks us inviting pressure and adding to the nerves, within the stadium and team.

I think our intensity will be back and the atmosphere should be electric after a few flat days at St James' Park, but we will have to be far more careful on the ball after far too many poor giveaways in our last two home games.

I'm backing the lads to put in a big effort and finish off the job to send us back to Wembley.

Prediction: Newcastle 1-1 Arsenal

Howay the lads!