Henry Winter wrote an ode to “inspiration” Eddie Howe after the Newcastle United manager guided his team to Wembley for the second time in three seasons.

The Magpies’ manager outclassed Mikel Arteta to win 4-0 over two legs of the Carabao Cup semi-final to come within one game of a trophy that eluded them at the final hurdle against Manchester United in 2023.

Howe got a difficult tactical decision absolutely spot on in the second of this season’s affair, with Joelinton unavailable through injury seeing Howe opt for a back five, and has earned mass praise for the result from journalists, pundits and players (Bruno Guimaraes in particular) alike.

Winter’s impassioned Howe tribute

Well-renowned football writer and broadcaster Henry Winter unleashed waves of a positive feedback for Newcastle’s performance against Arsenal, and particularly for the man giving orders from the dugout.

Howe produced a tactical masterclass on Wednesday evening, schooling Mikel Arteta for the third time this season with a back five and bold approach, which featured the likes of Fabian Schar doing a man-marking job on Declan Rice. 

In a post dedicated to Eddie Howe after our progression to the Carabao Cup final, Winter said this on X:

‘Eddie Howe has always been a very good manager, just under-appreciated at times (not at Newcastle or Bournemouth but too often under-appreciated nationally). Showed his tactical smarts in outwitting Arteta. Showed the belief Newcastle players have in him that they understood and executed his game-plan perfectly. Fluid 5-2-3 caught Arsenal out.

‘Swamped visitors’ meek attack (missing Saka and a No 9). Burn, Schar and Botman aerial strength to negate Arsenal corners. Burn, then Schar joining high press stunned Rice and co. Cobra-like on the counter through Gordon, Isak and Murphy. Gordon and Murphy overwhelmed and overtook Arsenal full-backs. Isak gave Saliba and Gabriel nightmares.

‘Picked Trippier for his winning mindset, defiant and demanding, and impact on crowd. Set the tone. Ferocious work ethic throughout team (embodied by Gordon) reflects Howe’s character.

‘More broadly, Howe also makes good players better – Hall’s developed from a raw talent to international level over the past 18 months (and still only 20). Howe’s man-management of Tonali during his suspension rewarded with the midfielder’s fine form.

‘Howe’s success great for Newcastle – and for English football. One of only two English managers in the Premier League (with Potter), Howe’s an inspiration. He’s a mixture of inner determination and calm in the storm. Howe and his Newcastle players will head to Wembley on March 16 with belief and a plan.’

Howe 90 minutes from history

Howe can cement his place in the Newcastle history books as one of the club’s all-time greats if he can overcome Liverpool at Wembley on March 16. Many great managers have left the St. James’ Park dugout without a trophy.

The manner in which it will have been won if we can defeat the red half of Merseyside will also have a massive factor in Howe’s place in history. Arsenal, Nottingham Forest and Chelsea, who currently round out the Premier League top four after Liverpool, have all stood and fell in front of us en route to the final.

A run to the final couldn’t have came much harder yet Howe and our squad have fought tooth and nail to see us return to Wembley. The hurt of two years ago will have to be built upon with a historic win writing these players names further into Tyneside legend.