Newcastle United have every reason to be confident after showing Champions League credentials
The Magpies are in a strong position heading into the second half of the season with the January transfer window open
Newcastle United supporters have every reason to be confident in their side securing a top-four finish after a resolute display at league leaders Arsenal. The Gunners look like the team to beat this season, and a win over Newcastle would have taken their lead at the top of the Premier League to ten points over Manchester City.
However, it was Eddie Howe and the traveling Toon Army that left the Emirates the happier of the two sides. It was the first game Arsenal have dropped points at home this season, winning an impressive seven out of seven prior to the game against Newcastle.
No side had kept a clean sheet at the home of the Gunners, until the Magpies showed up. The point on the road takes Newcastle’s unbeaten run to 15 games in all competitions, and means they’ve lost just once all season heading into the January transfer window.
The Magpies have played seven of the current top eight away from home, which is a big boost heading into the second-half of the campaign. Howe will be hoping his side will be able to use home advantage when they welcome the rest of the top-eight to St. James’ Park.
Newcastle will also be buoyed by the fact they need to play three of the bottom four at home, having played Nottingham Forest on Tyneside on the opening day of the season. That win set the tone for the season with Howe’s men going from strength to strength.
They’ve dispatched Tottenham Hotspur on the road, beaten Chelsea at home and drawn with Manchester City and Man United, with Liverpool their only defeat of the season.
Unlike the rest of the top-six, Newcastle don’t have any European football to contend with, keeping their game time limited to just domestic competitions and they’re still competing on three fronts. There had been question marks in relation to how the Magpies would react following the winter break for the World Cup.
However, they’ve answered any questions that have come their way and with just five players in Qatar for the tournament, they’ve not yet suffered any burnout. Their first return to action after the break was in the Carabao Cup – a venture that looks the most likely route to win a trophy and a feat that would see Howe go down as an immortal in Magpies’ history.
Their chances of winning a trophy will only improve with the January transfer window opening. If the last two windows are anything to go by, Newcastle could be in a very strong position heading into the second-half of the season.
With the right blend of improving the current squad and one eye on the future, the Magpies could establish themselves as one of the top teams in the country ahead of schedule. The aim this season is a return to European football, whether that be the Champions League, Europa League or Europa Conference League.
Supporters would be happy with either, but knowing they’re third in the table at the time of writing, would be somewhat disappointing if they saw their five point cushion to the Europa League places diminish. January will be a hugely important month with one eye on improving the squad immediately and then an eye on talents for the future.
If the Toon do secure a European berth, a squad capably of competing on multiple fronts is a must. As things stand, you’d question their strength in depth outside of the starting XI.
