Rafa Benitez is still hopeful of surpassing the 20-point mark before the turn of the year - despite Newcastle United’s awful run of results.
The Magpies must face up to moneybags Manchester City this month but travel to West Ham next weekend and also face a less daunting home game with Brighton.
Benitez sees the 20-point milestone as a significant one as it will mean Newcastle are halfway to their first target of the season.
After the Magpies were defeated 1-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday, Benitez said: “I wanted to get to 20 points.
“I think it will be difficult if we do not start winning games, but still I have confidence that we can do it.
“If we cannot do that, I am still sure that if the team continue working, there will be games that we can win and that will give us a lift in terms of confidence.
“That will make it is easier to approach games, but we have to keep the same team spirit.”
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Benitez’s side now have less points than the Toon team of 2016 which were eventually relegated.
But Benitez said: “Every game for us in important.
“When I came nearly two years ago, the team was at the bottom and everything was negative.
“You could see no confidence or belief.
Newcastle United manager Rafael Benitez (Image: Newcastle United)
“Now, you have a team that might be in the bottom three, but still it is a team with a lot of fight.
“There are a lot of young players and they are learning and pushing every game, putting in an effort on the pitch.
“There are a lot of positives if you compare this team to that one.
“ The other team had players with more experience that were established in the Premier League, but this team has more young players.”