Newcastle United’s defensive problems continue.
For a team who boasted the joint-best backline in the Premier League last season, Newcastle have fallen away in that respect.
Only the bottom three, Nottingham Forest and Bournemouth have conceded more than Eddie Howe’s team thus far (45) and such frailties were exposed at Arsenal on Saturday night.
Indeed, Howe reportedly looked “absolutely raging” on the touchline and it’s easy to understand why. His team were shocking defensively at the Emirates Stadium and boasted little in attack too, despite Joe Willock’s goal.
Having already admitted the defensive issues were “far from ideal”, Howe has now shared an update.
Newcastle news: What Eddie Howe is really worried about right now
Speaking to The Northern Echo after the game, Howe said of the defence: “Of course, it’s a worry.
“With every game that goes by and we concede goals, it’s a concern. Of course, we’re working on lots of things behind the scenes to try to improve that, but that probably wasn’t evident in today’s performance.”
Newcastle news: Huge pressure on the FA Cup
It is hard to imagine Newcastle qualifying for Europe at all unless things radically improve. Nick Pope’s seemingly imminent return from injury may help on that front but even then it’s a big ask.
As such, the FA Cup grows in importance. Offered a reasonably favourable tie in the fifth round away at Championship side Blackburn Rovers, a deep run there would perhaps at least give fans a reason to be invested during what remains of this campaign.
Quite why the defence is so bad compared to last season is up for debate. Even the dropping of Dan Burn didn’t really work at Arsenal on Saturday, with Tino Livramento torn apart by Bukayo Saka for their third goal.
Improvements are quickly needed.
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