Redknapp: Benitez has an impossible job at Newcastle

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Newcastle are struggling in the Premier League as they face Arsenal on Saturday.

Harry Redknapp has told Yahoo Sports’ In On Goal that he believes Newcastle United manager Rafa Benitez has an “impossible job” in trying to keep the Toon in the Premier League.

Despite a good start to life back in the top tier of English football following the Magpies’ promotion back to the top flight from the Championship, the Toon have slumped to just one point from a possible 24 in their last eight games.

It has seen Newcastle slip to 16th place and just one point above the dreaded relegation zone, with the January transfer window just over a fortnight away in what could be Benitez’s last chance to keep Newcastle up.

Former West Ham United and Tottenham Hotspur manager Redknapp claims Benitez has an almighty task in keeping the north east outfit in the Premier League, stating Newcastle’s squad is “average” and claimed they could be relegated.

“Rafa has got an impossible job. He was so low about the team,” Redknapp said. “He came out at the start of the season and said ‘I need players’. He did a great job getting them up [from the Championship] but he knows they’re nowhere near good enough.

“They’re a fantastic club. They’ve got 50,000 fans in Newcastle shirts every week, it’s an amazing place. But they deserve better than whet they’re getting.

“He started like he was going to prove everyone wrong with the results but now they’re finding their level and their level is not good enough. They’re short. I think they’re a team that could slip into it. An average squad, it could be difficult.”

Last time out, Newcastle suffered a 1-0 loss to Everton at St. James’ Park and now face a tough challenge as they travel to the Emirates Stadium to face Arsenal on Saturday afternoon.

Three points could see the Toon climb as high as 12th place if Huddersfield Town, Bournemouth, Stoke City and Brighton drop points, but their recent record against the Gunners is dismal.

Benitez’s side have lost their last nine outings against Arsenal, with the last meeting between the two sides resulting in a 1-0 win for Arsenal in north London thanks to a Laurent Koscielny goal.