Newcastle striker Callum Wilson believes the club have proved "people wrong" after their impressive turnaround in form culminated with a thoroughly deserved 2-0 Premier League win over Arsenal on Monday night.
Mired in the relegation zone after 23 matches this season, Newcastle have been one of the Premier League's form teams since the Saudi-backed takeover and the subsequent arrival as manager of Eddie Howe, who led a successful recruitment drive during the January transfer window.
After failing to win any of their first 14 matches, Newcastle registered their 12th victory of the campaign by beating Arsenal at St James' Park thanks to a Ben White own goal 10 minutes after the interval and a Bruno Guimaraes finish five minutes from time. It was Newcastle's first win this season against opponents in the top six.
"We took the game to Arsenal and deservedly got the three points," Wilson told the BBC. "Everybody wrote us off at Christmas and it was about proving people wrong. Now it's about not resting on our laurels. The boys are putting their bodies on the line - I've had a tooth knocked out and a split lip. It was like a war out there.
"The manager has stabilised us. He's brought in some great players and instilled a style of play and philosophy at the club. Why not cause upsets higher up the league and take the game to Arsenal?"
Wilson has been absent for large parts of the season, firstly through a hamstring injury before a calf injury kept him sidelined for four months. Now back in the Newcastle line-up, the England striker said the difference is clear between the current setup and the team's early season struggles.
"I've noticed a difference [coming back into the team]. I'm getting a lot more chances and we're keeping the ball better," he said. "I watched Arsenal the other night and I knew their centre-backs had injury problems. As a striker I was licking my lips.
"I've worked so hard [to get back to fitness]. When you're out injured you want to come back and make a difference."
Newcastle manager Howe was unsurprisingly lavish in his praise for his players and believes the win over Arsenal can be a watershed moment for the club's new era, with ambitions to gatecrash the established elite.
Newcastle v Arsenal player ratings
"It was a brilliant all-round performance. We played with intensity and never let up. We approached the game in a brilliant manner and we did the Premier League proud tonight," he said. "The one thing missing from us was that we hadn't beaten a top-six team - and we deservedly beat them.
"It's been a brilliant thing to be part of [Newcastle's recent form]. We've done it through team spirit and unity. We'll remain very calm in this moment because it's a brilliant win but that's all it is. We have to work to improve in the summer. We're a massive club with big ambitions but my job is to focus on how we do it rather than talk."
While there were plenty of reasons to celebrate for Newcastle, the defeat could prove damaging to Arsenal's top four hopes. The Gunners, in fifth, trail rivals Tottenham by two points heading into the final game of the season, and their vastly inferior goal difference means they will need to beat Everton and hope Spurs lose to already-relegated bottom side Norwich.
"Incredibly disappointed. The way we started to the finish, Newcastle were better. They deserved to win by a mile. It's a really difficult one to accept," Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said.
"We have to put our head down and accept the performance was nowhere near the standard required for the Champions League. From tomorrow we'll prepare for Everton. It's still mathematically possible."
Essentials
The flights
Etihad (etihad.ae) and flydubai (flydubai.com) fly direct to Baku three times a week from Dh1,250 return, including taxes.
The stay
A seven-night “Fundamental Detox” programme at the Chenot Palace (chenotpalace.com/en) costs from €3,000 (Dh13,197) per person, including taxes, accommodation, 3 medical consultations, 2 nutritional consultations, a detox diet, a body composition analysis, a bio-energetic check-up, four Chenot bio-energetic treatments, six Chenot energetic massages, six hydro-aromatherapy treatments, six phyto-mud treatments, six hydro-jet treatments and access to the gym, indoor pool, sauna and steam room. Additional tests and treatments cost extra.
Profile
Company: Justmop.com
Date started: December 2015
Founders: Kerem Kuyucu and Cagatay Ozcan
Sector: Technology and home services
Based: Jumeirah Lake Towers, Dubai
Size: 55 employees and 100,000 cleaning requests a month
Funding: The company’s investors include Collective Spark, Faith Capital Holding, Oak Capital, VentureFriends, and 500 Startups.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
What can victims do?
Always use only regulated platforms
Stop all transactions and communication on suspicion
Save all evidence (screenshots, chat logs, transaction IDs)
Report to local authorities
Warn others to prevent further harm
Courtesy: Crystal Intelligence
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
More from Neighbourhood Watch:
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
The Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index
Mazen Abukhater, principal and actuary at global consultancy Mercer, Middle East, says the company’s Melbourne Mercer Global Pension Index - which benchmarks 34 pension schemes across the globe to assess their adequacy, sustainability and integrity - included Saudi Arabia for the first time this year to offer a glimpse into the region.
The index highlighted fundamental issues for all 34 countries, such as a rapid ageing population and a low growth / low interest environment putting pressure on expected returns. It also highlighted the increasing popularity around the world of defined contribution schemes.
“Average life expectancy has been increasing by about three years every 10 years. Someone born in 1947 is expected to live until 85 whereas someone born in 2007 is expected to live to 103,” Mr Abukhater told the Mena Pensions Conference.
“Are our systems equipped to handle these kind of life expectancies in the future? If so many people retire at 60, they are going to be in retirement for 43 years – so we need to adapt our retirement age to our changing life expectancy.”
Saudi Arabia came in the middle of Mercer’s ranking with a score of 58.9. The report said the country's index could be raised by improving the minimum level of support for the poorest aged individuals and increasing the labour force participation rate at older ages as life expectancies rise.
Mr Abukhater said the challenges of an ageing population, increased life expectancy and some individuals relying solely on their government for financial support in their retirement years will put the system under strain.
“To relieve that pressure, governments need to consider whether it is time to switch to a defined contribution scheme so that individuals can supplement their own future with the help of government support,” he said.
TEACHERS' PAY - WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
Pay varies significantly depending on the school, its rating and the curriculum. Here's a rough guide as of January 2021:
- top end schools tend to pay Dh16,000-17,000 a month - plus a monthly housing allowance of up to Dh6,000. These tend to be British curriculum schools rated 'outstanding' or 'very good', followed by American schools
- average salary across curriculums and skill levels is about Dh10,000, recruiters say
- it is becoming more common for schools to provide accommodation, sometimes in an apartment block with other teachers, rather than hand teachers a cash housing allowance
- some strong performing schools have cut back on salaries since the pandemic began, sometimes offering Dh16,000 including the housing allowance, which reflects the slump in rental costs, and sheer demand for jobs
- maths and science teachers are most in demand and some schools will pay up to Dh3,000 more than other teachers in recognition of their technical skills
- at the other end of the market, teachers in some Indian schools, where fees are lower and competition among applicants is intense, can be paid as low as Dh3,000 per month
- in Indian schools, it has also become common for teachers to share residential accommodation, living in a block with colleagues
Zayed Sustainability Prize
The years Ramadan fell in May
The years Ramadan fell in May
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
LA LIGA FIXTURES
Friday
Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)
Valencia v Levante (midnight)
Saturday
Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)
Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)
Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)
Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)
Sunday
Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)
Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)
Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)
