NEWCASTLE have a 2-0 lead to defend when Arsenal visit St James’ Park in the Carabao Cup semi final second leg.

So SunSport have enlisted the help of their betting experts to preview the cup showdown and select the best bets, tips and exclusive sign-up bonuses from our leading betting partners.

Find The Sun’s betting publishing principles here

Newcastle vs Arsenal preview

It’s been a long wait since the first leg and plenty has happened in between.

But Newcastle will quite rightly take plenty of confidence from their first leg triumph at the Emirates when Arsenal visit this week.

It was a reasonably comfortable 2-0 win on the night and home support will be key to getting over the line and to Wembley.

Having said that, Eddie Howe’s men have been pretty poor in their last two home games when being thumped by Bournemouth and blowing a 1-0 lead to lose to Fulham just a few days ago.

A combination of that and a rousing 5-1 win over Manchester City should give the Gunners hope of turning this around.

Arsenal have won four on the spin, scoring 11 goals and conceding just two since that damaging 2-2 draw with Aston Villa.

They have lost in three of their last four visits to St James’ Park but an early goal might just change everything….

Newcastle vs Arsenal latest odds

• Newcastle at 11/5 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE

• Draw at 13/5 with Betfred – CLAIM HERE

• Arsenal at 6/5 with BetMGM – CLAIM HERE

Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

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Newcastle vs Arsenal predictions and tips

Where there’s a Will

Pictures of Joelinton in a knee brace are terrible for Newcastle and their supporters. Subsequent news he was visiting a specialist won’t help either.

But one door closes and another opens and ex-Arsenal man Joe Willock can add to his former side’s recent misery in cup competitions.

Will be chances on the counter attack and chance to make a big impression on big stage.

• Joe Willock at least 1 shot on target at 6/4 with William Hill – CLAIM HERE

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Win – but is it enough?

The Gunners can get the win on the night but will it be enough?

Can’t see Newcastle NOT scoring meaning Arsenal need at least three to keep themselves in the tie.

Can get the win on the night but might not manage that.

• Arsenal to win and BTTS at 31/10 with talkSPORT BET – CLAIM HERE

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STEPHEN HENDRY has opened up on the wrist condition that caused him to retire from snooker.

The Scottish snooker icon, 56, hung up his cue last summer after turning down a two-year tour card.

Getty

Stephen Hendry retired for a second time last summer[/caption]

This was the second time Hendry had call it quits, initially retiring in 2012 before returning in 2020.

The seven-time world champion struggled to achieve big results upon his return, calling it a day amid frustration with his performances.

Opening up on his snooker exit, he said: “Let’s be honest, I wasn’t pulling up any trees, was I?

“I was a little bit surprised with how good the standard was, but I’ve just got so many other work commitments, I won’t be able to dedicate enough time to practising.

“I know the game inside out, I still know all the shots, but unfortunately the body is not performing like my brain wants it to.”

Hendry then opened up on suffering with “the yips”.

The yips involves involuntary muscle spasms and can affect players in other sports including darts and golf.

Hendry added: “If I didn’t have the yips and I could play, I would still play.

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“I can’t go through the ball properly and I can’t wait at the back.

“There are certain shots I know I can’t pot and they can be the easiest pots in the world or easy positional shots. I hate it.

“I don’t know where it came from. Some people don’t see it but it’s horrible and that’s why I retired.”

It was long believed that suffering from the yips was always down to performance anxiety.

But further research has shown that it can be linked to a neurological condition called focal dystonia.

Hendry now works as a commentator and pundit for the BBC.

PA

Hendry, 56, now works as a pundit on the BBC[/caption]

ITV is dramatically slashing its soap schedule as Coronation Street and Emmerdale struggle under a cash crisis.

Currently, Emmerdale airs six episodes per week, Monday to Friday with a double episode on Thursdays.

PA

Eileen, portrayed by actress Sue Cleaver is leaving Coronation Street[/caption]

ITV

Colson Smith was devastated to be axed as Craig Tinker[/caption]

Coronation Street also airs six episodes per week, spread across Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, with two episodes each night.

Now just five 30-minute episodes of each show will air.

A source said: “Soaps are incredibly important to ITV and this is about preserving their longevity for the future.

“There has been a super squeeze in production costs and it was necessary to make changes but Corrie and Emmerdale both remain integral to ITV .”

They will screen a “soap power hour” as two back-to-back 30 minute episodes.

It will also air later in the day.

Insiders at the channel say it will help make both Emmerdale and Coronation Street more “streaming-friendly”.

It comes after a string of big name stars quit Coronation Street and many have called out the budget crisis which has left them struggling to make ends meet.

The new structure will launch with a huge stunt on both soaps.

A source added that ITV will still broadcast more hours of soap each week than any other channel.

ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment Kevin Lygo said in a statement: “The new commissioning pattern is viewer-led.

“We already give more choice than ever to viewers on how they watch us through ITVX and we want to present their favourite soap to them, in the most digestible way.

“In a world where there is so much competition for viewers’ time and attention, and viewing habits continue to change, we believe this is the right amount of episodes that fans can fit into their viewing schedule, to keep up to date with the shows.

“Research insights also show us that soap viewers are increasingly looking to the soaps for their pacey storytelling.

“Streaming-friendly, 30 minute episodes better provide the opportunity to meet viewer expectations for storyline pace, pay-off and resolution.”

He continued: “Whilst viewing is growing on ITVX, we know a significant proportion of our soaps’ audience still watch us via the schedule. This new pattern is in the DNA of the soap genre – nobody else does 30 minute drama this successfully.

“It creates a soap power hour that’s consistent, and easy to find in the linear schedule, for the UK’s biggest soaps.”

Lygo also hinted at cuts to jobs behind the scenes but said ITV will do its best to “to mitigate the impact on our people”.

He added: “This new commissioning pattern will mean five hours of soaps a week, rather than the current six.

“We are conscious this will have an impact for the people who work on the soaps team.

“We will support our colleagues in ITV Studios as they work through these changes, and will do what we can to mitigate the impact on our people.”

He went on: “These changes are motivated by doing what we believe is best for the continuing success of these important programmes in the long term.

“They also create headroom in the overall programme budget for investment in programming that can help ITV grow reach in a very very competitive market.”

LATER EPISODES

At the moment, Emmerdale airs from 7pm or 7.30pm and Coronation Street airs from 8pm.

From next year, ITV will introduce a soaps power hour Mondays to Fridays.

The first half hour will be 30 minute Emmerdale episodes airing at 8pm, and the second half will be 30 minute Coronation Street episodes at 8.30pm.

Episodes will continue to drop at 7am online at ITVX.

STAR EXITS

This comes after a string of Corrie stars — Helen North, Charlotte Jordan, Sue Cleaver, Sue Devaney, Colson Smith, and Luca Toolan — have announced they are leaving or being written out since November 2024.

Actor Seamus McGoff has also seemingly confirmed that he has left the soap, amid the ongoing cast exodus.

Insiders said rising costs and falling advertising revenue has piled on pressure.

Cobbles boss Kate Brooks warned last month she is set to axe characters including “some unexpected ones that will send shockwaves”.

Actress Susan Cookson – who plays nurse Wendy Posner in Emmerdale – has also been given the chop after seven years and she has filmed her final scenes.

Meanwhile, Emmerdale legend Dean Andrews’ character Will Taylor was brutally killed off last year.

ITV

Actor Dean Andrews had played Emmerdale’s Will Taylor for five years but has been axed[/caption]

ITV

Susan Cookson is another star that is being cut from the soap[/caption]

ITV

Actress Daisy Campbell has revealed she was devastated at being axed from Emmerdale[/caption]

Port Hedland councillor Adrian McRae, who praised Vladimir Putin’s election victory and quoted a nazi on Russian state TV, has announced his candidacy for a Upper House seat in the March State election

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As part of WA Labor’s string of election commitments, on February 3 an additional $50,000 was promised to Fishability, an initiative that encourages inclusive and accessible recreational fishing opportunities

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