TF Player Ratings - Newcastle Utd 2-0 Arsenal (4-0 Agg.)

On an evening when every player executed Eddie's gameplay to perfection, Ed Cole has your distinctly giddy, Wembley-bound player ratings

Martin Dúbravka - 9 Made one decent save when called upon while it was still 0-0. Other than that, didn’t have much in the way of shots to stop but commanded his area with aplomb, doing the necessary work to ensure none of Arsenal’s 13 corners came to anything.

Kieran Trippier - 9 Every inch the captain, leader and has potential to fulfil that triptych if we go one further. After a tricky start to the season when his captaincy was revoked, he could’ve spat his dummy out and walked away. Instead he waited for his time and stepped in at a crucial moment tonight, commanding the back line with authority and winding up Leandro Trossard repeatedly in the process.

Fabian Schär - 10 OK, Fab. We’ve had our differences. You’ve sprayed balls out of play and conceded possession in our own half and smashed wayward shots 50 yards over the bar from 40 yards out. But tonight you did your job. Stamina - 10. Marking - 10. Work rate - 10. Decision making (including no shots from 40 yards) - 10. A perfect fit for Eddie’s new ‘back three who press so high they’re alongside the strikers’ tactic. Class.

Sven Botman - 10 Like hearing the engine of a Rolls Royce purring, after it’s been in the garage for 12 months under repair. Wor Sven was every inch his old self, gliding across the turf and intercepting, tackling and breaking up play as calm as you like. Elysian.

Dan Burn - 10 The fire in the belly of the defensive triumvirate, but kept his cool and didn’t let himself boil over, even when the same old Arsenal were always cheating - throwing themselves to the floor at every opportunity. Dan from Blythe just stood like a brick wall, and was underneath every set piece that came into our box, n’all. Powerhouse.

Lewis Hall - 9 Linked up well with Gordon, and tracked Martinelli so well as to deny him any kind of impact before his injury. The young replacement Nwaneri escaped Wor Lewis’s attentions once or twice, but so good was Eddie’s tactical plan that it came to nothing.

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Sandro Tonali - 9 An absolute machine. Never stopped working to disrupt play and slow things down - a few risky passes when the nerves of the crowd may have preferred a hoofed clearance. But we can trust in our Italian Maestro, and I reckon he’s the kind of player who can single handedly win finals…

Bruno Guimarães - 9 Just when you think he’s infallible, he does something daft. And just when you’re losing your patience with him, he does something incredible. But besides his ability, this lad just gets it - the noise, the passion, the feeling of belonging. If he plays to the best of his ability on 16th May, then we have every chance of breaking our collective 70-year fast for domestic success. Howay Bruno.

Jacob Murphy - 9 Scored a goal, and deserves plaudits for being in the right place for the right time for the rebound. Other than that just made a complete nuisance of himself, rarely found himself with the ball at his feet in promising positions, but didn’t let that dissuade him from tracking back, and making the Arsenal left side work for everything.

Anthony Gordon - 9 Took his goal calmly and coolly, and never stopped looking for ways to turn and beat his man. One too many touches on occasion, but that is easily forgiven. A constant throw in Arsenal’s defensive side, and did his work at the other end of the pitch, too.

Alexander Isak - 10 Deserved a goal, and could’ve had a few. The offside was marginal (I assume, by the length of time it took for the ref to make the call) and the left foot curling effort to hit the post prior to Murphy’s goal was nothing short of sensational. Made Gabriel and Saliba look like Bramble and Boumsong on more than one occasion. By God, this lad is a diamond.

SUBS

Willock (80’) - 9 Deserves praise for standing up following the abhorrent, imbecilic abuse from earlier in the week, and was dangerous in moments, getting into a few nice pockets of space. Could yet rediscover his best form, and what a bonus that would be.

Krafth (80’) - 9 Not much to keep him busy but we didn’t lose our shape after he replaced one of our most important players on the night, and that deserves praise. Has he ever let us down?

Longstaff (87’) - 9 Not the starring role from our last semi final, but played a few nice passes and kept fighting ’til the last whistle.

Wilson (87’) - 9 Serenaded with his ‘Hey Callum Wilson’ song as soon as he set foot on the pitch, and replied with a wave of acknowledgement to all four stands. That’s worth a 9, isn’t it?

Miley (91’) - N/A Not sure he touched the ball. Who gives a shite. UNITED.

Ed Cole @edsamuelcole.bsky.social