The moment that proved Newcastle are ready for silverware ...Middle East

There was no delirious dressing room picture from the Emirates.

That post-win tradition of posting a squad celebration picture on X – initiated by Eddie Howe to emphasise unity and encourage the players to enjoy their wins – was absent in north London and that was absolutely deliberate.

The message it sent was very clear: Newcastle United’s statement win at Arsenal means nothing yet.

As an insight into the mentality of this Newcastle United squad, it is fascinating but only tells half the story. It is not just that they have a semi-final second leg to see out at St James’ Park next month – their collective eyes are on a bigger prize in March.

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Newcastle’s Carabao Cup run is being driven by two things: their scintillating form and a stinging sense of regret at what happened in February 2023, when they were beaten by Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United.

They froze on that freezing cup final day, perhaps engulfed by the enormity of what it would mean to be the group that ended Newcastle’s long wait for silverware.

Howe had tried to keep things low key but too much was made of being back at Wembley and perhaps, that obscured the bigger picture.

“As a city it is hard, we hype it up so much,” reflected Dan Burn a few weeks ago.

“But we have done it before and know the things we could have done better like handling the emotion.”

Newcastle looked every inch like a team that had learned that lesson last night, executing a ruthlessly efficient game plan that took Arsenal by surprise. Two seasons ago at the Emirates they fought, bit and scratched their way to a 0-0 draw which got under Mikel Arteta’s skin.

Repeat the trick and keep things cagey? Howe obviously sensed that his team had attacking momentum and put them on the front foot.

Alexander Isak – who feels inevitable at the moment – led from the front and now appears to have added aura to his impressive arsenal. When defenders as good as William Saliba are backing off, petrified by what you can do you know you are in a rich vein of form.

Newcastle rode their luck at times but it was deliberate to protect what they had in the second half, defending superbly to preserve a two-goal lead that will be mightily difficult to overturn in front of a sell-out St James’ Park in a month’s time.

If they complete the job you can expect delirium at full-time then. When they beat Southampton at the same stage two years ago Newcastle fans crashed LNER’s website booking trains to get to London for the weekend.

There will have been a few refundable Wembley hotels booked up by expectant supporters last night too. But it is a mentality that Newcastle’s squad can’t and won’t let encroach their season right now.

Over the last few decades we’ve heard a lot of managers and players talk about ending Newcastle’s trophy drought. Some of the best that have ever played or managed in Europe – think Ruud Gullit, Sir Bobby Robson and Alan Shearer – have attempted it and failed and the longer it has gone on, the more difficult the task has become.

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It is not just the sporting hurdle that Newcastle need to overcome – and with a dangerous Arsenal to see off before a potential final against a wounded Spurs or imperious Liverpool that is sizeable – but a mental one as well. It is arguably a bigger barrier.

It will take a special group to snap the cycle but with each passing week this squad is starting to resemble that. Isak is their north star, the best forward in Europe with potential to improve.

But Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes provide engine room endeavour and class in a midfield that is beginning to look elite.

Mix that in with the team’s chemistry – expertly curated by “player’s manager” Howe – and it feels like you have the ingredients for doing something historic.

Excitement is building on Tyneside – just don’t expect it to engulf the players until they have done the job.

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