Eddie Howe urged his Newcastle United team to “leave an inheritance” when they accept Arsenal in the EFL Cup on Wednesday.
Newcastle Welcome Arsenal to St. James' Park for the second stage of their semi-final draw, with a 2-0 lead of the first fixture at Emirates Stadium.
Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon received the goals in the first stage at the beginning of January.
And Howe, whose team finished second in the EFL Cup 2022-23, lost to Manchester United in the final, wants his players to insure their place in club history.
Howe said to reporters: “All our players must show that they can achieve the opportunity, that they can leave an inheritance on the field and do something that everyone talks about for years and years.
“What an opportunity we have to attack the game and embrace everything for us, to be at our best.
“Nerves and excitement are closely connected, and I understand that the brain can go in different directions, but what a great opportunity we have.”
Carabao Cup ready. pic.twitter.com/KNC3CXFOUK
– Newcastle United (@NUFC) 4 February 2025
Newcastle, who lost 2-1 to Fulham on Saturday, has won four of their last seven meetings with Arsenal in all competitions (D1 L2), as much as they had in their previous 45 against the Gunners.
However, they have never beat Arsenal in three different competitions in one campaign.
Before this season there were 32 authorities that one side lost the first stage of an EFL cup semi-final with a margin of two or more goals (as Arsenal did this period against Newcastle). Only one of them has been advanced to the final, with Aston Villa destroying a 3-1 first-line backlog against Tranmere in 1993-94.
And Howe knows the importance of the home crowd that creates an atmosphere.
“I think [our success] Has been a combination of us and the crowd, “he added.
“I think we have become a really powerful team together and that is what we need in this game.
“We have to involve all our supporters in our energy and our body language, we have to make this a formidable environment for our opponent. It is our duty to do that.”
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