Busted! Howe ‘not aware’ of night at darts
EDDIE HOWE wants Newcastle to hit the bullseye against Arsenal after his players had a night out at the darts.
Luke Littler and co entertained the Geordies on Thursday night when Premier League Darts arrived in Toon.
United’s stars (top) including Dan Burn, Harvey Barnes, Sean Longstaff, Elliott Anderson, Paul Dummett, Matt Targett and Mark Gillespie all cheered on Littler, supping only water, and saw him narrowly beaten by Michael van Gerwen. Newcastle can make it a double top at the Emirates tonight after their win at St James’ Park earlier in the season.
Howe (circled) said: “I wasn’t aware of the trip to the darts! I need a list of names please. I hope it wasn’t a late night. Maybe they should have been in fancy dress!” The Magpies travel to north London with Howe looking to renew rivalries with Mikel Arteta after a series of feisty games against the Gunners. The two have clashed on the touchline, and the Toon boss said: “I don’t think squared up is quite the way I saw it! “That is painting a different image to the one I remember. Mikel is a very passionate guy.
He will defend his team. I am the same. I will defend my team.
“I like to think there is a lot of mutual respect between us both. “Can Arsenal win the league? Yeah, of course. They are there on merit.
“If you look statistically they are at the top of the metrics for a lot of what we look at as being really important in the game.
“They have very good players. They have an outstanding manager, so they have everything they need.
“It is our job to go there and make it a very difficult game for them.”
Howe has warned Manchester United that Newcastle will strike a deal that suits them before releasing Dan Ashworth.
The Toon sporting director was put on gardening leave this week after the Old Trafford giants made an official move.
Newcastle are demanding up to £20m in compensation for losing Ashworth, or serve up to two years on gardening leave.
New Red Devils part-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe said it was “silly” and “absurd” that Ashworth could be in contractual limbo between jobs for so long.
Howe has spoken to Ashworth this week and says they remain on good terms.
Asked about Ratcliffe’s comments and Newcastle’s battle for cash from United, Howe said: “In these situations it’s about Newcastle from our perspective.”