Eddie Howe has said he is ‘grateful’ for Arsene Wenger’s praise after the former Arsenal manager described his performance at Newcastle as ‘exceptional.’
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The Magpies boss has made another impressive start in his second full season in charge of the club, with Newcastle sitting sixth and just six points off the top four.
In addition, they have reached the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup having knocked out Manchester City and Manchester United, while recording a famous 4-1 home win against Paris Saint-Germain in their second game back in European football.
Such achievements have earned the 45-year-old plenty of praise, including from the legendary Frenchman, with Howe bowled over by the compliments from one of his managerial idols.
‘I’m very grateful for those comments,’ he said speaking at a press conference.
‘Arsene was one of the managers who inspired me. The Invincible team was some of the best football I’ve ever seen. I can’t respect him anymore.’
This weekend sees Howe’s side host Arsenal, the club where Wenger spent the majority of his managerial career.
Newcastle have won just once in their last eleven games against the north London clubs, but a big home win would see them close the game on Mikel Arteta’s side to just four points.
And just as Arteta has done with Wenger’s former side, the 74-year-old said the next step for Howe and Newcastle is to become a regular fixture at the top end of the Premier League table.
‘When the new ownership came in, Howe did very well and slowly he has built a balanced team with desire and passion for the game and has been consistent with his results,’ he told BeIN sports.
‘Overall in the last two years, he has done an exceptional job. They are on the fringe of the top four; the next step for them will be to be consistent in the top four and then to challenge for the title.
‘To do that they need some more top players with the same mentality. The challenge for him will be to keep adding quality players whilst keeping that same mentality and culture of performance that he has instilled already.’
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