'Second to none': Eddie Howe now says 'brilliant' Newcastle man has been fundamental this season

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe spoke to the media on Friday morning ahead of Saturday's huge clash with Arsenal at the Emirates. Kick-off is 8pm live on TNT Sports.

The Newcastle gaffer refused to be drawn on whether this would be a 'grudge match' given the fallout from the last meeting when Anthony Gordon's goal was given despite VAR checking three separate incidents leading up to the goal. Something that Mikel Arteta was not too happy about to say the least.

Howe said that Newcastle's preparations haven't taken that into account and he doesn't expect Arsenal will have either. We beg to differ. At least we hope they have and that it's weighing on them when they take to the pitch and they make rash decisions that cost them the game.

Newcastle will be hoping Arsenal get riled up and make costly errors

Newcastle meanwhile will have to stay ice cold, especially Bruno Guimaraes who got a bit hot under the collar the last time the sides met. The Brazilian is walking a tightrope as it is with another yellow card meaning he'll be handed a two-game ban.

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Captain Kieran Trippier may well have his work cut out for him then if he's to keep his players focused if Arsenal come at us with the same intensity, trying to get a rise out of our players.

Eddie Howe won't be worried about his captain though, as the manager was full of praise for his right-back who still leads the assist charts in the Premier League, something that doesn't shock Howe at all (quote via The Chronicle).

Eddie Howe was full of praise for Kieran Trippier on Friday morning

"It is a brilliant stat for a full-back, he is a guy who will play a lot of creative passes before a goal happens. He has been fundamental to how we work - his leadership skills behind-the-scenes have been second to none."

It definitely looks like that blip at the end of last year when Trippier was literally costing us points is behind him now and the 33-year-old is back to his best again.

Let's hope Tripps can lead us to glory tomorrow night. Howay Eddie Howe's Sh*thouse Mags!