After making a habit of moaning about Newcastle United over the past few years, Mikel Arteta was surprisingly complimentary in his press conference ahead of Sunday’s game.
Arteta has built a reputation as being a whinge, and certainly not shy of digging deep into his bag of excuses following defeat against Newcastle – going as far as blaming the match ball after we beat them at the Emirates in January.
It caught us completely off guard that the Spaniard not only made a rare change from being a moan, but going as far as to compliment Eddie Howe for the job he has done at Newcastle.
Mikel Arteta praised the “remarkable” job that Eddie Howe has done in his time at Newcastle, transforming us from a side fighting relegation to battling for Champions League football for the second time in his tenure.
Pep Guardiola’s former assistant went on to explain just what it is that makes the approach of the Mags manager so difficult to play against – and the high praise comes as music to the ears from a typically harsh critic.
On the job Eddie Howe is doing and what makes his Newcastle side so hard to play against, Arteta said:
“Well, a very difficult team for any opposition. I think what Eddie [Howe], the staff and what they have done in the last few years is remarkable and they’ve been very, very consistent, very difficult to play against like we’ve been.”
“They dominate almost every aspect of the game. They are great when they have to attack a low block, and they have a lot of presence on the board.
“They need to go on set-piece, they need to go on transition, they need to defend a low block. The game has to get physical. They are ready to do that. The way they compete, they are smart.
“They try to take advantage of a lot of things like any good team. You have to dominate a lot of things. You know you’re on the top of the table in this league.”
Newcastle have faced off against Arsenal three times this season, getting the best of Arteta’s side on all three occasions without conceding once.
Repeat that task on Sunday and make it four wins from four, a big ask but clearly achievable, and the Magpies go second in the Premier League heading into the final day – what a season it’s been!
A win would also guarantee Champions League football at St. James’ Park next season regardless of what happens on the final day, but finishing second would just make an incredible campaign that bit sweeter.
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