Arsenal head into crunch Newcastle clash in great form - will it be enough to beat Newcastle and reach Wembley

Mikel Arteta insists that the mometum from Arsenal's superb 5-1 thrashing of Manchester City can be harnessed to help reach Wembley.

The Gunners might be heading to Newcastle United with a two-goal deficit for the League Cup clash on Wednesday night - but having had a month gap between the two legs, so much has changed for both side ahead of the second leg.

Newcastle’s nine wins in a row - a joint club record - posted by Eddie Howe's side has long disappeared, having been beaten 4-1 at home against Bournemouth and 2-1 at home against Fulham last weekend, the Magpies form is not what it was, when the sides met in early January.

While Arsenal have now posted four straight wins to reach the last 16 of the Champions League, as well as Sunday's display against City being one of the club's best in the Premier League era, all eyes are on St James’s Park this evening.

Arteta said: “When you compare the emotional state of the team straight after the defeat and the manner that it happened and how we are, today is very different because we come from very strong performances, some great wins and especially the last one at home against Manchester City.

“Let’s keep this momentum and after the game, we'll have a break. It’s the moment to go full gas, ready to go for it and try to approach it in the way that we believe is the best one to be in that final.

“The next step is a final in Wembley so we know how big that is, and you can feel it straight away. The boost the game against City gave us, the manner that we won it, and the fact that it is a game in the competition where we are closest to a final, so we're going to give it a real go.”