Newcastle United goalkeeper Rob Elliot is adamant that the relegation-threatened Magpies have what it takes to turn the corner, despite Saturday’s defeat to Arsenal leaving them two points adrift from safety in the Premier League’s bottom three.
To the surprise of pundits and fans alike, Newcastle put in an accomplished display at the Emirates Stadium and made the table-topping Gunners look remarkably normal for large periods of the game, with only Arsenal goalkeeper Petr Cech preventing the North Londoners from falling behind.
However, to Steve McClaren’s dismay, the Tynesiders were made to pay for their lack of cutting edge in front of goal for the fourth time in recent weeks, as Laurent Koscielny’s second-half tap in was enough to steal the three points for Arsene Wenger’s side against the run of play.
Despite Arsenal condemning Newcastle to a third consecutive 1-0 defeat, Elliot, who has been one of the Magpies’ star performers this season, believes that the black-and-whites are agonisingly close to stringing together a run of positive results.
Speaking to the club’s official website, the Republic of Ireland international said:
“It was harsh (Saturday’s game).
“I thought we played really well but we’ve got to start taking our chances.
“When you come to the Emirates, if they produce a bit of magic with the world class players they’ve got, then you hold your hands up. But the way we conceded and the chances we had, everyone is so disappointed.
“The potential is there to be seen. I thought we dominated the game from start to finish. They put us under a bit of pressure but not as much as we put them under.
“Petr Cech was probably their best player, and I had the quietest game I’ve had in a while, which tells its own story.
It’s a good start to the New Year in terms of performance, but performances alone aren’t good enough. We have to start picking up points, quickly. We’re not far from cracking it. You can see we’re almost there but it’s fine margins and getting those things right. Those small things are the difference between winning and losing.
“Coming to Arsenal, nobody would have given us a chance, but we performed well and need to show that for the rest of the season.
“If we can keep showing that character and improve in a couple of areas, we should be alright.”
Elliot missed last week’s narrow defeat to West Brom through illness, however, the 29-year-old returned to the Newcastle starting XI against Arsenal and picked up where he left off with another accomplished display between the sticks.
When questioned over his health, the Irishman, who has quickly established himself as an influential dressing room figure, insisted that he is now feeling fine after his untimely absence at The Hawthorns:
“I’m much better now.
“(At West Brom) I tried to warm up but could barely concentrate and was sick, so I don’t think I would have done anyone any favours in playing.
“I was gutted to miss the game because I love playing for this team but I was pleased to be back against Arsenal.
The lads in front of me, especially the two centre-halves, were fantastic, and made my afternoon that much easier. I just wish we were leaving with a result.”
