Newcastle United's season on the brink as Howe faces relegation battle questions

Malick Thiaw clenched his fist. Jason Tindall wrapped his arm around Kieran Trippier. Anthony Elanga jumped on William Osula's back. This was a victory to savour for Newcastle United as players and staff posed for a celebratory photograph in the away dressing room at Stamford Bridge. Eddie Howe's side had just showed their mettle with a committed display to record a rare away win against Chelsea. "You need the confidence that winning gives you," the Newcastle head coach said after the 1-0 victory last month. Those words have taken on another meaning since then. Newcastle have subsequently lost five successive games in all competitions against Barcelona, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Bournemouth and Arsenal. It has now reached the stage where Howe has even been asked if he is looking over his shoulder. Newcastle, for context, are eight points clear of the relegation zone in 14th in the Premier League with four matches to go. But this side have also lost nine of their past 12 top-flight fixtures. So have Newcastle already done enough or could they somehow get dragged into a dogfight? Newcastle did not necessarily look like a team who were going to get pulled into a scrap on Saturday. A group who previously appeared drained of confidence did not go under after conceding a ninth-minute goal against Arsenal. In fact, Emirates Stadium grew more and more nervy as the game went on. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta's relief on the touchline was particularly telling after Newcastle substitute Yoane Wissa volleyed over late on. Just as Newcastle lacked a cutting edge in the final third, though, they were undone by some slack defending after the unmarked Eberechi Eze fired Arsenal to a 1-0 victory. These have been familiar issues for Newcastle at both ends of the pitch in recent weeks. But captain Bruno Guimaraes said Saturday's display reminded him a little of "what we are able to do". "Our season has not been good enough," he told Sky Sports. "I know it. "Now we have four games to save it and try and at least qualify for European football next season. "I know the fans are very sad. So are we. We definitely have to improve." That goes without saying given the high stakes for those sides Newcastle are playing in the run-in. First up is the visit of sixth-placed Brighton on Saturday before Newcastle travel to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest, who are in 16th. Newcastle then host 17th-placed West Ham and finish the campaign with a trip to Craven Cottage to play Fulham, who are still in the race for Europe. The table is so tight that Newcastle, on 42 points, are as close to Brighton in sixth as they are to Tottenham in 18th. But this team desperately need a victory to lift the mood. "We're looking at the fact we haven't won games," Howe said after the defeat at Arsenal. "It's too many games without positive results. "We're looking at next week, trying to win a game, and trying to lift the feeling we currently have."