I know their weak point already, Winning them will be very easy for me’: Newcastle Boss Eddie Howe deliver Honest Verdict ahead of premier league CLASH with Arsenal
The big games keep coming for Newcastle United, as they prepare to welcome Arsenal to St James’ Park on Saturday.
It is proving to be a really challenging season for Newcastle, with cup competitions leading to huge games each and every week alongside their Premier League commitments.
Already this season, we have seen Liverpool, Manchester City, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund at St James’ Park, and the next team to head to Tyneside is Arsenal.
They arrive in the North East with an unbeaten record to preserve. Mikel Arteta, who expects a raucous atmosphere, has started the campaign strongly, and is yet to taste defeat in the opening 10 Premier League games.
Arsenal look like title challengers once again, as they look to go one better than last season when they finished as runners up to Manchester City.
Newcastle played against Arsenal when they were deep into their title challenge last season, at a stage when every point mattered. They were able to get all three at St James’ Park, doing a real job on Newcastle to win 2-0.
That was a very impressive performance from Arteta’s side, and Eddie Howe actually thinks that Arsenal have improved even more since then.
Eddie Howe thinks Arsenal are even better than before
Ahead of the game at St James’ Park, Howe has spoke to the media. He has praised Arsenal, admitting that he thinks they are now an even better side than they were when they finished second.
“Arsenal last year, it speaks for itself what they achieved,” he said, as reported by the Chronicle.
“I think they have moved on from last year, mentally moved on and stepped it up. They are unbeaten, it is a really big test of our credentials.
“We are going to have to find ways to make it very difficult for them but we are looking forward to the game.”
Big challenge for Eddie Howe and Newcastle
It is going to be so tough for Newcastle. As Howe says, they look to have raised their game to an even higher level, which is worrying when you look at how good they were last season.
The arrival of Declan Rice has made a huge difference. He is a player who Newcastle looked at signing, but the Magpies simply could not compete with Arsenal financially.
Toon officials will see Rice up close on Saturday night, and witness the impact he has had on this Arsenal team. Howe believes they have ‘stepped it up’, but he will be confident that his team have improved as well.
It should result in a fantastic game of football at St James’ Park, and one that Newcastle will need to play very well in to get at least a point.
