PSG, Leeds United and Arsenal - Eddie Howe's memorable Newcastle United moments in his own words

Newcastle United was a very different place when Eddie Howe prepared to take charge of his first game as Magpies manager.

The men from St James Park were sat in the Premier League relegation zone after Steve Bruce and interim manager Graeme Jones failed to pick up a win during the opening two months of the 2021/22 season. Howe, somewhat cruelly, missed out on stepping into the dugout for what was his first game in charge as a positive Covid-19 test meant trusted assistant Jason Tindall oversaw matters for a 3-3 draw with Brentford.

But since then, aided by the support of a PIF-led consortium, Howe was instigated a turnaround in fortunes on Tyneside by leading the Magpies back into the Champions League, to their first major cup final this century and to a number of memorable wins against the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester United and Arsenal. Three years on from his first game in charge, we look back at some memorable moments with the help of words from the man himself.

4th December 2021 - Newcastle United 1-0 Burnley

After taking two points from his first three games in charge, Howe finally racked up his first win against one of his former clubs. Callum Wilson got the only goal of the game as a mixture of relief and celebration enveloped St James Park.

Howe: “It's an amazing feeling. The supporters at the end - wow, incredible. The reception they've given us all the way through, even with some difficult results, has been exceptional. I was so pleased for the fans that we got the win we desperately needed, it gives everyone a huge lift. I don't think we started the game well, but I thought we got a lot better as the game went on. The last period of the game, given we haven't won for so long, was always going to be nervy, but I thought we dealt with it pretty well.”

22nd January 2022 - Leeds United 0-1 Newcastle United

This was possibly the moment when Howe’s impact really clicked into overdrive. A narrow win at Elland Road came on the back of an FA Cup exit at the hands of Cambridge United and a lacklustre performance in a home draw with Watford - but Jonjo Shelvey’s free-kick gave the Magpies a big three points and provided the platform for a successful charge away from the relegation zone.

Howe: "Today we learned that there's a resilience in the team. They are fighting for each other and fighting for the club. They have belief that we're not dead and buried and there's more to come. I'm so pleased for everybody connected with Newcastle that we won the game. It was a big match and hopefully it can transform our season. It was a massive win for us. I thought we played very well today. First half was a bit cagey. Second half we played really well, we defended well. We became a real counter threat the longer the game went on.”

16th May 2022 - Newcastle United 2-0 Arsenal

A season of change on and off the pitch at St James Park came to an end in an explosive manner as Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal were blown away. A Ben White own goal and a Bruno Guimaraes strike saw off the Gunners on a night when the Gallowgate rocked from pre-match to post-match. The game also gave an indication of what was to follow for a new look Howe side.

Howe: "This was the best performance since my arrival: the motivation was personal pride and performing in front of our supporters and leaving on a good note into the summer. We were very aggressive, good physically. It's not an easy game, Arsenal are top quality. Credit to the players. We knew this was something we hadn't achieved - getting something against the top six. In the future we'll have to compete against these teams. We have to have confidence we can win anywhere. This will help us today.”

21st August 2022 - Newcastle United 3-3 Manchester City

A genuine Premier League classic as Howe’s Newcastle gave an early sign of the intensity and energy that would become their hallmarks during a remarkable season. Allan Saint-Maximim, Miguel Almiron and Kieran Trippier all found the net as Pep Guardiola’s men were forced to battle back from two goals down to snatch a point at St James Park.

Howe: “It was an incredible game, a rollercoaster of emotions through the match. We go one-nil down and it's the worst possible start against this team because then you have to chase the game and potentially leave open spaces, but the players responded brilliantly to that. We scored some great goals. I was absolutely delighted with the effort and commitment, everything the players gave.”

31st January 2023 - Newcastle United 2-1 Southampton

A big step forwards for Howe and Newcastle as the Magpies saw off the Saints thanks to two Sean Longstaff goals to secure a place in the Carabao Cup Final. That represented the club’s first major cup final since 1999 and provided an early landmark for the Magpies manager.

Howe: "It was an intense game. At 2-0, we were playing really well – and their goal changed the dynamic. Part of our problem was the psychological aspect. Southampton had nothing to lose – and we were feeling the pressure. Now we're there, we want to win. We don't want to go there and just participate in the final; we want to compete to try and win. That's what we'll do. You want to be in finals of competitions to increase your status – and make yourself more desirable for people to join. This is a club on the up.”

26th February 2023 - Manchester United 2-0 Newcastle United

There was to be disappointment for Howe and Newcastle as they fell to a Wembley defeat against Manchester United. In what was only their second League Cup Final appearance, the Magpies fell well short of the standards they had set as goals from Casemiro and Marcus Rashford helped the Red Devils to a win.

Howe: “I thought we were really competitive. I can't fault the players and what they've given me in this game. The game is decided on big moments and the free-kick, we've not defended it well enough, and they are the moments we'll look back on. It leaves us with a feeling of a defeat in a final and that is never nice. We are desperately disappointed but already for me you look to the future, and you are desperate to get back here and win a trophy. To see the supporters, who have been absolutely incredible for us this year, disappointed and hurt, it hurts bad, and the motivation now is to get back here and win them the trophy they deserve.”

2nd April 2023 - Newcastle United 2-0 Manchester United

Revenge would be sweet for Howe and Newcastle as they claimed a Premier League win against Erik ten Hag’s side on a day when a dispute between the two managers came to the fore. That came after the Red Devils boss questioned the tactics used by the Magpies and accused Howe’s side of time-wasting throughout games.

Howe: “I’m pleased you brought that up, actually. I want to make one thing very clear – we want the ball in play. We play a quick game. I don’t get where this time-wasting nonsense has come from. It’s not us. You saw today. We wanted the ball back in play as quickly as possible. High energy, high tempo. Ball in play. If something’s not accurate, naturally you want to put the right points across. As I said, we want the ball in play. That’s the type of team we are.”

22nd May 2023 - Newcastle United 0-0 Leicester City

Another notable achievement for Howe and Newcastle as the Magpies secured their return to the Champions League for the first time in two decades. A surprisingly low key affair with the Foxes gave Howe’s side the point required to claim a return to European football’s top table.

Howe: "This wasn’t in our sights at that moment. We had escaped relegation impressively, from the position we were in. We were hopeful of improving and staying away from danger and growing the team to a position where maybe we could compete for Europe in a couple of seasons, so we’ve shot ahead of schedule. With that comes big challenges for the future, but when you’re in these moments and there’s an opportunity of something like this, you have to take it.”

4th October 2023 - Newcastle United 4-1 Paris Saint-Germain

A night for the ages at St James Park as Paris Saint-Germain caved in as Champions League football returned to Tyneside for the first time in two decades. Goals from Miguel Almiron, Dan Burn, Sean Longstaff and Fabian Schar helped the Magpies to a fine win against the Ligue 1 champions and leave their manager to reflect on a ‘special night’.

Howe: "To score four times against PSG in front of our supporters made it a really special night. I really do respect the Geordies. Their lifelong associations with the club, they have a unique understanding of what it means to play for Newcastle. That is so important for us behind the scenes. For Sean and Dan, these are amazing moments in their careers. But it is also a great lesson for us not to get ahead of ourselves. We keep going and take nothing for granted. The atmosphere was very special, I knew it would be. There was an extra level tonight, I can’t thank the supporters enough. I hope there are a lot more nights like this to come. It is a very special night for all of us.”

13th December 2023 - Newcastle United 1-2 AC Milan

The Champions League campaign came to a disappointing end on a night when the Magpies actually went ahead with a Joelinton goal. At one stage, Howe’s men were set to secure a place in the knockout stages of the competition - but the Serie A giants hit back as a combination of results also saw Newcastle miss out on third place on a place in the Europa League.

Howe: “We had the opportunity tonight to do what we had to do and we didn't take it. We couldn't have tried harder, I don't think we left anything on the pitch. You always have to use disappointment - the setbacks - as motivation and fuel for your fire to make sure you continue to achieve. We'll go back to the Premier League and try and do as much as we can to be consistent and stay up there. It's painful but that pain is motivation for tomorrow. Now we need to focus on the Premier League and get that right. This game stops for nobody. We have to park this quickly, learn from it, adjust and move on. I don't want a hangover from this." 

6th January 2024 - Sunderland 0-3 Newcastle United

A first experience of an old rivalry for Howe as the luck of the FA Cup draw sent Newcastle to Wearside to take on a Black Cats side sat in the Championship. A Dan Ballard own goal and an Alexander Isak brace saw the Magpies through as they earned a first derby win in over a decade.

Howe: “The bigger the game, the more you enjoy it. We enjoyed the occasion, there was nothing new for us in terms of the high profile games we played in and the grounds we visited. I don’t think it was too dissimilar to Milan or PSG, & other places we’ve been this season….so I think those experiences helped us. Without downplaying it, it was a normal day for us. We were here to do a job and thankfully we’ve done it. We had to do the little bits right today and that’s what happened. It keeps us in an important competition and that brings hope. Today we knew the result was big for our supporters and the way they've supported us away from home this season, it was good we could do that for us.”

2nd November 2024 - Newcastle United 1-0 Arsenal

It has been a challenging start to the current season for Howe and his players but there have been signs of life in recent weeks. Prior to the final international break of the calendar year, Howe’s side claimed a Carabao Cup win against Chelsea and collected all three points in their visit to Nottingham Forest. However, an impressive home win against Arsenal provided the most satisfaction for Howe.

Howe: "I’m tired, actually I need a lie down! It was intense; maybe not for the neutral an entertaining game, but fascinating if you were involved in it. (There was) a lack of goalmouth action but that’s down to the tactical set-up of both sides. (This was) a massive win against a really good team. Once we scored, Arsenal played well … we were then content to defend well … we had to, (as) they have threats all over the pitch. I’m really pleased with our defensive performance (there was some) heroic blocking. "If you can’t play brilliant attacking football every week, you need to find different ways to win. To beat Arsenal shows our qualities.”