Bruno Guimaraes may not be with his Newcastle United teammates at Arsenal on Tuesday night, however he is certainly with them in spirit.

Eddie Howe's men take on the Gunners for a place in the Carabao Cup final at Wembley in March - two seasons on from agony at the home of English football. As a two-legged contest, the first has taken place at the Emirates Stadium in North London and the second is scheduled for February 5 at St. James' Park.

As starts go, it could not have gone any better for Newcastle. The home side have dealt with their fair share of pressure, with Gabriel Martinelli striking the post and a scramble in front of Martin Dubravka's goal somehow avoiding the net.

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But it was Alexander Isak's 37th-minute strike that was the difference at half-time of this first leg, or alternatively a quarter of the way through the whole tie. A set-piece launched up by the goalkeeper dropped to Jacob Murphy, his quick feet opened the space for the striker and he thundered in off the underside of the crossbar.

And evidently supporting his teammates from Tyneside, Guimaraes took to X in appreciation of the goal. He wrote: "Isakkkkkk," followed by a heart-eyes emoji, followed by black and white heart emojis paired with one another.

He then issued another similar post of appreciation after Anthony Gordon doubled the visitors' lead in front of the away supporters, tapping in at the back post after David Raya saved from Isak. He wrote: "Gordonnnnn."

The Brazilian maestro is forced to sit and watch from his home because he is suspended. A yellow card in the quarter-final against Brentford was his second in the competition this season, which, before the semi-final reset, is enough to earn such punishment.

It is only a one-game suspension, and he is therefore able to play in Newcastle's upcoming FA Cup and Premier League fixtures, plus next month's return leg in the North East.