Newcastle secured an impressive and deserved 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final on Tuesday evening at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal spurned several promising chances in the opening half-hour and were punished for their profligacy by Alexander Isak. The Newcastle striker scored his 15th goal of the season seven minutes from the break, firing past David Raya with aplomb following a free kick.

Anthony Gordon doubled Newcastle’s advantage shortly after half-time and the Magpies were able to hold firm under increasing Arsenal pressure, ensuring they take a commanding lead back to St James’ Park for the second leg in early February.

Newcastle made an energetic start in the capital but it was the home side who boasted the stronger opportunities early in proceedings. A series of impressive blocks from lunging black and white shirts was followed by Jurrien Timber heading over the crossbar from four yards out with the goal gaping.

It took until just before the half-hour mark for Arsenal to fully flex their attacking muscles with a slick move that almost resulted in the opening goal. Two fizzed passes bypassed the Newcastle press and set Gabriel Martinelli racing towards Martin Dubravka’s goal, but the Brazilian’s venomous effort crashed against the post.

Just as momentum shifted in Arsenal’s favour, Newcastle struck. Sven Botman claimed the initial flick-on from a free kick and found Jacob Murphy, who cushioned the ball into the path of the in-form Isak. The towering Swede made no mistake from close range, rattling off the underside of the crossbar to give the Magpies the lead.

Arsenal almost entered the break level but Dubravka’s sprawling save on the cusp of half-time denied the hosts their equaliser. Declan Rice’s far-post header fell fortuitously for centre-back Gabriel, but the Brazilian couldn’t hammer his half-volley beyond the onrushing Newcastle stopper.

The Gunners would have hoped for an immediate response after the restart but it was their visitors who instead doubled their advantage six minutes after the break. Murphy picked out goalscorer Isak and the forward forced Raya into a low save, with Gordon reacting before Timber and poking the parried effort into an empty net.

Kai Havertz was gifted a glorious opportunity to half the deficit moments before the hour mark when Leandro Trossard’s deflected cross fell to him unmarked in the six-yard area, but the returning German inexplicably missed his header as the ball bounced off his shoulder and out for a goal kick.

Arsenal continued to pile pressure on the Newcastle goal without working Dubravka too often, with Jorginho blazing a promising opening over the crossbar in the final five minutes that epitomised a frustrating evening for the Gunners.

Arsenal’s creative struggles were plain for all to see at the Emirates and they now have the incredibly difficult challenge of overturning Newcastle’s two-goal cushion at St James’ Park in the second leg. If they can’t, it will be another silverware opportunity passed up by Mikel Arteta’s side.

Mikel Arteta’s starting lineup highlighted the magnitude of Tuesday’s duel. The Spaniard fielded his strongest available starting XI for Newcastle’s arrival, hopeful of a more impressive and fluid performance than was served up at the weekend against Brighton & Hove Albion.

However, from the first whistle, Arsenal found life challenging. Newcastle, somewhat surprisingly, utilised a high-octane pressing approach, forcing errors from the home side and limiting the time and space afforded to their talented forward line.

Newcastle understandably took a more cautious stance once going two goals ahead, sinking deeper and making an array of defensively minded substitutions. However, Arsenal continued to be stifled by Eddie Howe’s side, having no answer for the deep-lying backline that stood before them.

The Gunners desperately missed the indefatigable and endlessly creative Bukayo Saka, who is sidelined with injury for the foreseeable future, and now have a mountain to climb ahead of the second leg. Without their talismanic winger, Arsenal choked on the grand stage.

There has long been a narrative that Arsenal need a new centre-forward if they’re to turn from nearly men into serial winners. Isak has been one of the names regularly mentioned in gossip columns, with his mightily impressive performances on Tyneside not going unnoticed.

While Kai Havertz – and Gabriel Jesus in recent weeks – have occasionally papered over cracks, Tuesday evening showed exactly what Arsenal have been lacking during their rougher periods over the past few years.

Isak, who would reportedly cost £150m, demonstrated his class in front of an interested audience, leading the line effectively from first minute to his eventual substitution. He had already scored the winner in the league fixture back in November and produced a similarly clinical finish to fire Newcastle in front, before forging Newcastle’s second with some brilliant centre-forward play. Havertz, meanwhile, missed an unchallenged header from point-blank range.

The Sweden international’s general link-up play was hugely impressive, with bursts of pace and gazelle-like agility wreaking havoc for Arsenal’s experienced centre-back duo. If this was an audition to call north London his permanent home, he passed with flying colours.

Newcastle made a relatively slow start to the campaign but have burst into life over the past month. Tuesday’s triumph was a seventh straight victory in all competitions, with wins over Aston Villa, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and now Arsenal in their last four outings.

The Magpies have often saved their best performances for the Premier League’s giants this term – see their 1-0 win over Arsenal earlier in the campaign – and turned up the heat again at the Emirates.

A breathless and spirited performance was deserving of a two-goal victory, with Newcastle ruthless in the final third, workmanlike in midfield and heroic in defence. The latter was particularly eye-catching, with block after block denying Arsenal a route back into the match.

Should they reach the final, they will have no fears at Wembley, even if Liverpool are their opponents in the showpiece event. They have shown their ability to continually mix it with the best and they now have an excellent opportunity to end their long trophy drought.