Eddie Howe Arsenal press Conference – The key messages ahead of St James’ Park clash | OneFootball

The Eddie Arsenal Press Conference has taken place.

The Newcastle United Head Coach speaking to the media ahead of Saturday’s match at St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe and the players hoping to follow up Wednesday’s cup victory over Chelsea

The last three seasons have seen Eddie Howe’s team win two out of the three in this fixture against Arsenal at St James’ Park.

Eddie Howe Arsenal press conference on Friday:

“They are a very good team with a very good manager.

“Now we play one of the most consistent teams in the Premier League for the last couple of years so the challenge for us is never easy, but we’re at home.

“Arsenal have done very well this season.

“They are very good from set plays and a physical team.

“We need to be ready for that test.”

Eddie Howe on Anthony Gordon and Alexander Isak:

“They both feel okay, we will assess how they feel today, 48 hours after the [Chelsea] game.

“They have both had niggling injuries.

“We’ll make a decision today.

“We need to make sure whoever enters the pitch against Arsenal is in the best physical condition.”

Eddie Howe on Callum Wilson:

“Callum is doing okay, he’s building his load again.

“There was no real injury but just a feeling in his body that he couldn’t push as hard as he wanted.

“We’ll see how he is but probably with the two-week gap best to leave it [his return until after the international break].”

Eddie Howe on last season’s home win over Arsenal:

“I do remember it being a great atmosphere and a very physical and competitive game – two teams really going at it.

“It was a really good advert for the Premier League.”

On rotating the Newcastle United squad:

“It was good to see so many players performing well – it was good to be able to rotate some of the squad and see the strength in depth we have.

“We will pick a team for Saturday according to physical wellbeing and our opponent.”

On Emil Krafth’s performance against Chelsea in the cup:

“He’s just such an unassuming, brilliant professional – really hard working, so dependable.

“When you meet him, you instantly like him.

“He is a very good player and underrated by the outside world.

“Internally, we love him, and you can see his qualities.

“We really value him.”

Eddie Howe on getting through to the League Cup quarter-finals for a third season in a row:

“I’m really pleased with the response from the players.

“I thought our performance was very good and we got the reward for that performance – two good goals and a clean sheet.

“Winning always makes you feel better about everything – there is a spring in your step.”

Eddie Howe on Joe Willock:

“It’s not been a straight road back, lots of frustrating moments where he hasn’t been able to push on.

“Wednesday was probably his best game in a while where he has looked physically good.

“To go from box to box, having a sense where the ball is going to arrive in the box – that is Joe at his best.

“Really pleased to see it because he has been big miss for us.”

Eddie Howe on the support from Newcastle fans on Wednesday night:

“The environment again was second to none, it was a really good feeling.

“I can’t thank the supporters enough for that.

“There was no hangover from recent results, it was really good and that helped us massively.”

Eddie Howe asked about bringing the ‘dark arts’ back:

“That is related to winning games.

“Everything is different when leading to chasing games.

“We were in that [leading] position a lot last season, not so much this season, so you when chasing you end up being the reacting team.

“We don’t want to be in that position, we want to be in control.

“But whatever it takes to win games, I am a firm believer in that.”