Newcastle United manager Eddie Howe has described his team as "desperate" to secure a statement victory against Arsenal this Sunday. The Magpies face the Gunners at St James' Park looking to land their first blow on a top-four rival this season.
Howe addressed Arsenal's massive £1 billion spending under Mikel Arteta, insisting the Spaniard has done excellent work despite the lack of silverware. The Newcastle boss said: "Seems crazy, doesn't it? The transfer fees keep going up and up. Mikel's done a great job."
Backing Arteta's progress
The Newcastle manager praised Arsenal's consistent improvement under their Spanish coach. Howe said: "They continue to improve. So I wouldn't look at the money spent. That's irrelevant really. It's about the strength of the squad and how they work and how they play. They'll be very close this year."
Arsenal finished second last season and have made significant signings to challenge Liverpool again this campaign. The Gunners remain in pursuit of their first Premier League title since 2004.
Historical success against Gunners
Newcastle enjoyed remarkable success against Arsenal last season, beating them three times including a crucial Carabao Cup semi-final victory. Those wins helped the Magpies claim their first trophy since 1969.
However, their last meeting in May ended in disappointment when Newcastle lost 1-0 to a Declan Rice wonder strike while fighting for second place. Howe reflected: "I actually thought we played quite well last time against Arsenal and we created a number of early chances in the game, we didn't take them."
Desperate for Premier League form
Newcastle have struggled for consistency in the Premier League this season, making Sunday's clash crucial for their confidence. Howe said: "We respect our opponents, but we go into every game desperate to win. I have seen that attitude from players this season."
The manager acknowledged Newcastle need to improve their league form while emphasising the competitive nature of matches against Arsenal. According to The Standard, Arsenal recently faced criticism for playing "with the handbrake on" during their draw with Manchester City.
Challenging week ahead
Sunday's match kicks off a demanding period for Newcastle with three games in one week. The team travels to Brussels on Tuesday to face Union Saint-Gilloise before hosting Nottingham Forest.
Howe stressed the importance of player recovery and tactical preparation across the busy schedule. The manager remains confident in his squad's ability to compete at the highest level despite their inconsistent start to the campaign.
Sources used: "Chronicle Live", "The Standard" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
