' Harry Arter insists that points can come from the top Premier League sides '
The Independent
Monday 20th August 2018
Harry Arter has a convincing counter-argument to those who believe Cardiff City’s survival hopes will live or die on their ability to beat the likes of Newcastle.
The midfielder, a deadline day loan mover from Bournemouth, has plenty of experience in defying the odds and the doomsayers such as BBC radio pundit Chris Sutton who has predicted Neil Warnock’s side could threaten Derby County’s record low total of 11 points for a Premier League season.
Cardiff may have spurned an opportunity against a Newcastle side reduced to 10 men for almost the final half hour, but in the end they were hugely fortunate to earn a point when their keeper Neil Etheridge saved Kenedy’s feeble 95th minute penalty.
Yet Arter insists the points may come from the most unexpected places after his new side failed to capitalise on Isaac Hayden’s dismissal.
“You do single games out where there is more pressure to win games. But every game is an opportunity,” said Arter.
“I remember in our first season up with Bournemouth we were in a real spot of bother in the bottom three with games coming up against Chelsea and Manchester United. We had Chelsea away and Man United at home and we ended up getting six points out of those games, which some people had written off.
“Every game you go into you have a chance to upset people. Everyone is going to write Cardiff off this year and that’s up to them. I wouldn’t say it will motivate the lads more, because our aim is to stay in the Premier League whether there are people being positive or negative about us. Nothing from the outside is going to derail us.”
The other presumed wisdom about Cardiff is that Warnock’s promoted team must elbow, shove and chase their way to survival.
They were typically aggressive against Newcastle, but it would be inaccurate to label them long ball, even though their attacks are rapid and direct.
Arter and his fellow debutant, the Spaniard Victor Camarasa, have been drafted in to add some poise and craft to the hurly-burly, but the Ireland international insists there is more than one way for a Bluebird to soar above the relegation net.
“One thing I have learned with football is that there is no right or wrong way. So many teams have success doing different things that can be unique and brilliant.
“Of course, everyone wants to copy Manchester City and the way they play. But you have to understand they have some of the best players in the world to play that way. There are other ways to win football matches.
“Philosophy-wise, I don’t think there was anything silly. The ball didn’t go long. All the time we got passes in when we needed to. The manager encourages us to play. There is no negativity towards wanting to play football.”
For Newcastle, the lessons of a missed opportunity of their own are to find more belief from the outset, rather than wait until the chips are down.
They also require far more discipline from the infuriating Brazilian Kenedy who long before his missed penalty had hacked at Camarasa in a manner likely to invoke FA disciplinary action.
The 22-year-old would have been sent off had referee Craig Pawson seen the first-half assault, so a retrospective three-game ban is likely.
Kenedy, who will be unavailable for Newcastle’s next game anyway as they host his parent club Chelsea on Sunday, may be trying the patience of Rafa Benitez but so far the Magpies manager is choosing not to let it show.
Benitez said: “I think it’s a time for him to stay focused. He is quite good in training sessions. Sometimes there are things he can do and there are things he can’t. But we can all learn from today.
“We have had changes from last season and there is new competition for places. We have to get to the level we were at sometimes last season and everyone has to give everything.”
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