Arsenal vs Newcastle LIVE: Team news and line-ups from Carabao Cup semi-final as Martin Odegaard starts – UK Times

Gabriel Jesus has been involved in 13 goals in his last nine starts in the League Cup (11 goals, 2 assists).

Newcastle captain Bruno Guimaraes misses tonight’s match due to a suspension for picking up too many yellow cards in the previous rounds.

The Magpies boss, Eddie Howe, spoke about what it’ll be like to play without his talisman and said: “It’s a big blow. One of Bruno’s biggest strengths is he is always there for you.

“His record has been brilliant for us especially when you consider the physical exertion that he commits to every game.

“His training is very good and he’s been exceptional in every way so to lose him, and he’s a pivotal figure for us, is going to be a big miss but we have good players that can fill his shoes as well so, whoever I choose in that position, I have a lot of quality players.”

This is only Newcastle’s third appearance in the League Cup semi-finals, but they’ve progressed to the final in each of the previous two (1975/76 vs Tottenham, 2022/23 vs Southampton).

Eddie Howe has praised the extraordinary effort of Newcastle defender Sven Botman after he marked his eagerly-anticipated return with a strong display in a 2-1 win at Tottenham.

Fabian Schar’s suspension meant Botman was thrust into the Magpies line-up to make his first competitive appearance since March following anterior cruciate ligament damage.

Arsenal have scored 11 goals in their three League Cup matches this season, netting at least three each time. They’ve never scored 3+ goals in four consecutive games in the competition.

Mikel Arteta believes his players are learning to adapt to different situations and positions as he attempts to limit the negative affect of long-term injuries on his squad.

The Arsenal manager said: “We discussed the situation and the fact that we have to use players in positions that they probably haven’t played in before.

“We are learning a lot from that and what I learn especially is the willingness of the team; you speak to any individual and ask him to play anywhere on the field and they say: ‘I’m there’. That’s great as well to learn from your players.

“It’s a good learning process, not only tactically but also preparation and training with very few players. Today we had seven or eight players with us just to fill the squad which isn’t normal but it’s a weird way to learn, but I’ll take it.

“I cannot change it so let’s take the things that we can get out of it to be better.”

The Arsenal boss says that Newcastle’s in-form striker is a ‘top-player’ and that his team will attempt to minimise his impact this evening.

Arteta said: “He’s a top player in top form scoring a lot of goals and we try to minimise the strength of the opposition. That’s a big part of the plan when we’re playing any opponent.”

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

Newcastle XI: Dubravka; Livramento, Botman, Burn, Hall; Willock, Tonali, Joelinton; Murphy, Isak, Gordon.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and then Liverpool counterpart Jurgen Klopp were angered by Newcastle’s approach during that campaign, prompting Howe to say: “We are not here to be popular and to get other teams to like us. We are here to compete.”