Mikel Arteta knows how important Wednesday night is. Arsenal have the chance to get to the Carabao Cup final, although they must overcome Newcastle United, who hold a 2-0 lead going into the semi-final second leg.

"Next stop is a final in Wembley so we know how big that is and you can feel it," Arteta told reporters on Tuesday. "You can feel it straight away. The boost that the game gave us when against City, the manner that we did it and the fact that it's a game that is the closest competition we are in to a final. So we're going to give it our real go."

Alexander Isak and Anthony Gordon both scored in the first leg at Emirates Stadium at the start of January and Arteta knows the threat the home side will pose his team. "They are a very difficult team to play against," the Spaniard insisted.

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"They've been different games. We beat them at home last year in a good way. Obviously this season has been different with two different games as well I think. So yeah, another opportunity ahead of us, a big one that can take us to Wembley so really looking forward to it."

Arsenal will be without five senior players for the clash in Newcastle, however. Ben White is edging closer to a return but will play no part at St. James' Park, with the defender continuing his recovery from knee surgery. It's possible the Englishman makes his return in February, though. "No news from the game against City and Ben is still out hopefully after the break he will be available," Arteta said.

Arteta confirmed that Bukayo Saka is no closer to making a return from the hamstring injury picked up in the win at Crystal Palace in December, while Takehiro Tomiyasu and Gabriel Jesus are the two other long-term absentees. Neto, who is on loan from Bournemouth, is cup tied so will not make the trip up north.

That means, when looking at the official Arsenal website, the Gunners have 17 senior players available for selection for the game vs Newcastle. As per EFL Cup rules, a club is allowed to name a squad of 20 players for a Carabao Cup match.

Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who are classed as Arsenal Academy players on the Gunners official website, have been included in most matchday squads this season and could start from the off on Wednesday night. Young goalkeeper Jack Porter, who made his senior debut in this competition against Bolton, is expected to be named on the bench with Neto ineligible.

Possible Arsenal squad for Newcastle: Raya, Porter; Timber, Gabriel, Kiwior, Calafiori, Zinchenko, Saliba, Lewis-Skelly, Tierney; Rice, Jorginho, Partey, Merino, Odegaard, Nwaneri; Trossard, Sterling, Havertz, Martinelli

Senior players unavailable for Newcastle: White (knee injury), Tomiyasu (knee injury), Saka (hamstring injury), Jesus (knee injury), Neto (ineligible)