Eddie Howe has challenged his Newcastle players to create a “legacy” by reaching the final of the Carabao Cup at Arsenal’s expense.
The semi-final second leg at St James’ Park kicks off with Newcastle 2-0 in front after the first leg in north London last month and Howe accepts that can be a “dangerous” lead. He has, therefore, called on his team to “attack the game” in order to seal a place at Wembley and seek to end Newcastle’s long wait for silverware.
“All our players have to show they can rise to the occasion, that they can leave a legacy on the pitch and do something that everybody talks about for years and years,” said Howe. “What an opportunity we have to attack the game and embrace everything in front of us, to be at our best.”
Given that Newcastle, losing Carabao Cup-finalists two years ago, have not won a major domestic trophy since 1955, the occasion will, inevitably, come freighted with emotion. “Nerves and excitement are closely linked and I understand the brain can go in different directions,” said Howe, whose side have won 10 of their past 12 games but lost the last two at home. “But what a great opportunity we’ve got.”
The month-long gap between the two legs has seen Arsenal’s form improve appreciably while Newcastle have faltered and there is real apprehension on Tyneside that this shift in the power balance will be reflected on the pitch. “Whether a 2-0 lead is the most dangerous in football is probably a conversation for another time; you could go into depth on that,” said Howe. “But it’s only dangerous if you don’t perform. So the message is we have to perform. That’s the challenge. But I don’t think too much focus on the dynamics of the scoreline is healthy for the brain.”
