Arsenal

Eddie Howe admitted Newcastle United will likely need to beat Paris St Germain and AC Milan to keep their Champions League dream alive.

The Magpies suffered a 2-0 loss at Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday night as the Germans earned back-to-back Group F victories over the Premier League outfit.

They will head for Paris later this month having picked up just four points from their opening four fixtures and knowing anything less than three at the Parc des Princes could prove fatal with Milan set to visit St James’ Park in December.

Asked if they now needed to return from France with at least a point, Howe said: “Yes. It’s difficult to tell at this stage, but we are probably going to have to win our last two games.”

Howe was left to reflect on what might have been after a difficult night at Signal Iduna Park as the team he had fashioned from the remnants of his injury-hit squad failed to live up to his expectations.

His decision to start 19-year-old full-back Lewis Hall suffered an early setback when he picked up a ninth-minute booking which ultimately prompted his half-time withdrawal in a bid to avoid a second caution, and the Magpies improved, but not enough to make a difference.

Asked for his reflections on the performance, Howe said: “Very similar to Dortmund (at home) last month, a frustration on our performance knowing there is more in the tank to give. We’re better than that and can show a better version of ourselves than we did.

“I don’t think Dortmund have seen the best Newcastle and that always leaves a feeling of frustration. But we accept it, we’ve delivered it and we have to look to the future now.”

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Niclas Fullkrug’s