Howe: Gordon must be ´fully focused´ on Newcastle amid Arsenal links

Newcastle United boss Eddie Howe has urged Anthony Gordon to be “fully focused” after emerging reports linking the forward with a move to Arsenal.

The Gunners are reportedly interested in signing the England international this summer, with Liverpool and Manchester United also said to be looking at the Magpies star.

Gordon has scored just three goals and provided two assists in the Premier League this season, but has directly contributed to 12 goals (10 goals, two assists) in 10 Champions League games this term.

He is just the second Englishman to reach double figures for goals in a single Champions League campaign, after Harry Kane in 2024-25 (11).

And following his four-goal display in the first leg at Qarabag in the play-off round, he became the second player in Champions League history to score four goals in the first half of a game, after Luiz Adriano for Shakhtar Donetsk against BATE Borisov in October 2014.

Ahead of Newcastle’s league match against Everton, Gordon’s former side, on Saturday, Howe wants his main man to avoid any distractions.

“I’m not sure there’s a lot I can do about that,” said Howe. “I’ve not seen the story, so it’s news to me.

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“But we’re mid-season, we’re in the middle of some of the biggest games of his career, and who knows what’s going to happen internationally with Anthony in the summer as well.

“He’s not got time to look left or right. He’s got to be fully focused on straight ahead and the next game, and trying to be as good as he can be.”

Newcastle are looking to complete the Premier League double over Everton for the sixth time (1993-94, 1995-96, 2001-02, 2020-21, 2022-23). Only against Tottenham (seven) have the Magpies done so against a side more often.

However, Everton won this exact fixture 1-0 last season, last winning away at Newcastle in consecutive seasons in 2012-13 and 2013-14.