Bruno Guimarães inspires Newcastle to the Carabao Cup final by honing in on Arsenal’s breaking points

Bruno Guimarães is writhing on the turf. Could be trouble, this. He almost seemed to spin through the air as Myles Lewis‑Skelly clipped him. Landed awkwardly. Still down. Clutching his calf, and maybe his rib too? The Newcastle physios crouch expectantly at the touchline. Eddie Howe wears a concerned expression. Referee Simon Hooper brandishes a yellow card.

At this, as if suddenly possessed by a bolt of divine grace, Guimarães slowly rises from his slab and accepts the benedictions of his teammates. Less than 45 seconds later, he will be sprinting at full pelt towards the edge of the Arsenal penalty area and playing an outrageous no‑look pass to Joe Willock with the inside of his heel. Miraculously, Bruno Guimarães has cheated death again.