Newcastle’s Defining Moment: Two Wins from Glory or More Heartbreak?

Newcastle United are just 90 minutes away from a shot at silverware, but the closer they get to the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Arsenal, the more daunting the challenge becomes. Two games. That’s all that stands between them and the chance to end a 70-year wait for domestic glory. Yet, history looms large, and what comes next will shape their season—and possibly their identity as a club.

A Club Haunted by History

Newcastle last won a domestic trophy in 1955, lifting the FA Cup for the third time in that decade. Since then, their silverware drought has become part of the club’s DNA. The Inter-Cities Fairs Cup triumph in 1969 remains the only exception, but within England, heartbreak has been a recurring theme.

There were FA Cup final defeats in 1974, 1998, and 1999. A League Cup final loss in 1976. Under Kevin Keegan, the club came agonizingly close to a Premier League title in the mid-1990s, only to fall short. Under Mike Ashley, Newcastle often failed to even take the cups seriously, treating them as secondary competitions. Between 2007 and 2021, they rarely progressed beyond the fourth round, let alone reached a final.

The arrival of new ownership in 2021 changed everything. Eddie Howe led Newcastle to the Carabao Cup final last season, but they were outclassed by Manchester United at Wembley. Still, that run reignited a sense of belief. This season, Newcastle have fought their way to another semi-final, and unlike last year, they are in control. A 2-0 first-leg victory at the Emirates has given them a cushion, but can they hold their nerve?