Eddie Howe reveals wish Newcastle transfer targets…

Eddie Howe reveals wish Newcastle transfer targets must hear as traditional Arsenal plan changes

Eddie Howe believes Newcastle United can have a 'great' 2023 if the Magpies keep the 'togetherness' at the heart of the club's transformation in the last 12 months.

Newcastle were languishing in 19th place a year ago, but Howe's side rang in the New Year in third following a remarkable turnaround. To put that change of fortunes into perspective, only Man City, Liverpool and Arsenal picked up more points in the Premier League in 2022.

Yes, money has been spent on new signings - around £210m in the previous January and summer windows - but it is worth noting that eight of the 14 individuals who featured in the goalless draw against Leeds United on New Year's Eve were players Howe inherited. Fabian Schar, Joelinton, Sean Longstaff and Miguel Almiron are among those survivors from the Ashley era who have looked reborn in the last 12 months.

Those improvements, along with the work ethic and spirit that Howe and his staff have fostered, were crucial to Newcastle not only staying up last season, but then shooting up the table in the months since. Howe asked his players to put the interests of the team before their own when the Newcastle boss outlined his 'non-negotiables' in one of his very first team meetings and the 45-year-old is desperate not to 'destroy' that feeling in the group with the wrong type of characters in the transfer market.

"My hopes are that we keep the core mentality that has brought us success during the previous season," he told reporters when asked about 2023. "That has all come from togetherness, from the group being highly motivated, very conscientiousness in its training work, very committed to improvement.

"Although there's very driven players there, they have always acted in the right way on behalf of the team. As long as we keep those core characteristics, we can have another great year."

Any new arrivals will have to buy into that team-first mentality moving forward and you can be sure there will be targets watching on with interest when Newcastle face league leaders Arsenal on Tuesday night. This will be another fresh test of Newcastle's credentials at the Emirates, a stadium the Magpies have not picked up a single point in in any of their last 10 visits in the Premier League. In fact, Newcastle have not even scored at Arsenal since 2014.

However, Newcastle are a different side now, after already taking points off Man City, Spurs, Manchester United and Chelsea this season, and Howe has 'total faith' in his players to give 'anyone a very competitive game' on their day. Newcastle have set up to contain at the Emirates in the faint hope of nicking a result in years gone by, but that certainly won't be the case on Tuesday night.

"There are certain times where you might need that mindset within the game but, as a starting point, how do you grow if that is your consistent way of approaching these types of games?" he added. "I'm not sure you can.

"We have tended not to go down that route. We want players to believe we can win every game.

"In order to do that, you have to prepare as if you believe you can win the game so we try to be consistent with that but, within the game, there may be moments where you have to go, 'Right, let's batten down the hatches and see the game out' or whatever the situation requires. In our preparation, those certainly won't be our messages."

Eddie Howe reveals wish Newcastle transfer targets must hear as traditional Arsenal plan changes

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