The battle for the first silverware of the season will see Arsenal host Newcastle United in the first leg of the English Football League (EFL) Cup semifinal at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, January 7, 2025. Africa Football’s editor Allan Damba looks into the upcoming match.
To reach the semifinals, Arsenal eliminated Crystal Palace after a tightly contested 3-2 victory in the quarterfinals. In the earlier rounds, the Gunners defeated Preston North End and Bolton Wanderers with 3-0 and 5-0 victories, respectively.
Meanwhile, Newcastle secured their place in the semifinals by beating Brentford 3-1 at St. James’ Park in the quarterfinals. In previous rounds, the Magpies ousted Chelsea with a 2-0 win and overcame Nottingham Forest via post-match penalties after a 1-1 draw in regulation time.
Arsenal, who were on a winning run prior to the weekend, stumbled on Saturday, drawing 1-1 with Brighton & Hove Albion. Youngster Ethan Nwaneri scored for the Gunners, while Joao Pedro equalized for Brighton.
Newcastle, on the other hand, continued their fine form with a 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in Saturday’s lunchtime Premier League clash. The in-form duo of Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak found the net for the Magpies.
Our prediction for Arsenal vs Newcastle
Arsenal remain unbeaten at home this season across all competitions. However, they face a Newcastle side that has won each of its last six games. The two teams have collectively scored 27 goals in their last five games, with Newcastle netting 14 and Arsenal 13.
We recommend punters back Both Teams to Score (YES) with odds of 1.65 on 1xbet. Additionally, we suggest betting on Over 2.5 goals, available at odds of 1.69 on 1xbet.
Arsenal recent form analysis
Arsenal dropped points against Brighton on Saturday with a 1-1 draw, despite taking the lead in the first half. They have been resilient, suffering their last defeat on November 6 in a 1-0 loss to Inter Milan. The Gunners have won four of their last five games.
- Last five games: 4 wins, 1 draw.
- Latest result: Brighton 1-1 Arsenal.
Newcastle recent form analysis
Eddie Howe’s team is in imperious form, winning each of their last six games. Their last defeat came on December 7, 2024, when they lost 4-2 to Brentford. In their most recent match, they edged Tottenham 2-1 away from home.
- Last five games: 5 wins.
- Latest result: Tottenham 1-2 Newcastle.
Player to watch
Thomas Partey: Partey continues to demonstrate why he’s one of Arsenal’s most crucial players. Against Brighton on Saturday, the Ghanaian was deployed at right-back to cover for the injured Ben White and Jurrien Timber. Partey has been outstanding this season and will be pivotal if Arsenal are to secure a positive result against Newcastle.
Related article: Will Partey Stay in London? Salary and Prospects of the Ghanaian Midfielder
Best odds and betting tips
We’ve identified the following as the top betting tips for this match:
- Both Teams to Score (YES) at 1xbet (1.65).
- Over 2.5 goals at 1xbet (1.69).
