Arsenal FC faced off against Newcastle in a gripping cup encounter at St James' Park on 5th February 2025, with the home side emerging victorious with a scoreline of 2-0. The match kicked off at 9:00 PM, and despite a spirited performance from the Gunners, they were unable to find the net, ultimately succumbing to the Magpies.
Arsenal lined up in a 4-3-3 formation, with David Raya in goal, flanked by Jurrien Timber on the right and Lewis Skelly on the left, while Gabriel and William Saliba formed the central defensive partnership. In midfield, Declan Rice operated on the right, with Thomas Partey in the centre and Martin Ødegaard on the left. Up front, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard provided width as right and left forwards respectively, supporting striker Kai Havertz in the middle. The formation aimed to provide a balance between defensive solidity and attacking flair, with the midfield trio expected to control possession and create opportunities for the forwards.
The substitutes for Arsenal included Ethan Nwaneri, Mikel Merino, Raheem Sterling, Ricardo Calafiori, and Jorginho, who would be called upon as the match unfolded.
The match began with an early foul by Gabriel Martinelli, who tripped an opponent just two minutes in, setting the tone for a fiercely contested encounter. Ten minutes later, Thomas Partey also committed a foul, again with a trip, as both teams struggled to find their rhythm.
In the 19th minute, Martinelli showcased his creativity with a clever flick that resulted in a key pass, although it was Martin Ødegaard who came closest to breaking the deadlock shortly after, striking the post with a powerful effort. However, it was Newcastle who capitalised on Arsenal's misfortune, scoring the opening goal in the 21st minute with a close-range tap-in that left Raya with no chance.
William Saliba responded well to the setback, making a crucial interception just a minute later to prevent further damage. Arsenal continued to press, but Ødegaard's attempt in the 22nd minute went wide, and Trossard's effort was saved shortly thereafter.
Kai Havertz made his mark in the 24th minute with a flicked pass that demonstrated Arsenal's attacking intent, while Ødegaard's long pass in the 26th minute showcased the Gunners' ability to stretch the play. Gabriel also contributed defensively with an interception in the 31st minute, but Saliba's misjudgement in the 35th minute led to a foul, as did Ødegaard's push just moments later.
In a significant moment, Gabriel Martinelli was forced off due to injury in the 37th minute, making way for Ethan Nwaneri. As the first half drew to a close, Havertz was cautioned for persistent infringements, and Saliba received a yellow card for denying a goalscoring opportunity just before the whistle blew for half-time.
The second half commenced with Nwaneri making an immediate impact, delivering a slide rule pass in the 46th minute. However, it was Saliba who was again in the spotlight, making a block in the 47th minute before a series of mistakes from the Arsenal defence began to unravel their efforts. Saliba misplaced a pass in the 47th minute, followed by Declan Rice doing the same shortly after.
The turning point came in the 51st minute when David Raya's misplaced pass led directly to another Newcastle goal, doubling their lead and leaving Arsenal with a mountain to climb. The Gunners tried to respond, with Partey and Trossard both committing fouls in the 56th minute, but the momentum was firmly with Newcastle.
As the match progressed, Arsenal made their substitutions, bringing on Raheem Sterling and Mikel Merino in the 62nd minute, replacing Ødegaard and Trossard respectively. Nwaneri had a chance to pull one back in the 74th minute, but his effort was saved.
Further changes were made in the 78th minute as Jorginho and Ricardo Calafiori entered the fray, with Partey and Timber making way. However, mistakes continued to plague Arsenal, with Rice misplacing another pass in the 80th minute and Skelly committing a trip in the 84th minute, which resulted in a yellow card for Sterling due to dissent.
As the match entered its final moments, Rice committed a high tackle in the 87th minute, and despite a long pass from him in stoppage time, Skelly's attempt in the 91st minute went high. The match concluded with Havertz committing a foul in the 95th minute, sealing a disappointing night for Arsenal.
Despite the loss, Lewis Skelly stood out as a player of the match, demonstrating resilience and determination throughout the contest. Arsenal will need to regroup quickly as they look to bounce back from this setback in their pursuit of silverware.
