‘They will carry on’: Lawrenson issues Howe warning, amid backing for Newcastle boss

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Mark Lawrenson has noted in his BBC Sport column that Eddie Howe can make Newcastle United a winning side, but he must address concerns over the Toon defence to stop the rot.

The Magpies travel to Arsenal on Saturday lunchtime still chasing a first win of the Premier League season. No other club remains winless after the first 12 games of the campaign.

Newcastle have also allowed a joint league-high 27 goals with Norwich City, who have won their last two games. Enough for the Canaries to move off the bottom and above the Toon.

No matter Newcastle’s successes at Arsenal, Howe’s side will end the weekend inside the relegation zone. And Lawrenson expects them to remain stuck in 20th-place by Monday.

“If Newcastle are as open as they were in their 3-3 draw with Brentford last week, they will carry on leaking goals,” Lawrenson wrote.

“It’s not a bad idea for them to be more attacking under Howe. In the position they are in, they need to win games. They will beat some teams playing that way, but not Arsenal.”

Can Howe secure Newcastle’s first win of the season at Arsenal?

Howe will hope to mark his debut in the Newcastle dugout with a win over Arsenal, after watching last week’s Brentford draw from a hotel room after testing positive for Covid-19.

The Magpies played on the front foot against the Bees after training under Howe during the international break. But as Lawrenson notes, they were too open at the back, as well.

The first sign of United’s weak spine came straight after they took the lead on 10-minutes through Jamaal Lascelles. Their celebrations proved short-lived, as Ivan Toney brought a halt to their jubilation immediately by meeting Sergi Canos’ cross and beating Karl Darlow.

Newcastle failed to track Rico Henry’s dart into the box for his goal, either. While Toney took pleasure in hitting the Toon on the counter, before Lascelles’ unfortunate own goal.

Howe will want his Newcastle players to show far greater defensive awareness and clean up any errors, as he takes his seat on the bench against Arsenal to have a chance to win.