FOUR Newcastle players were involved in a bust-up with fans on the train home from Sunday’s 4-0 loss at Arsenal.
Having chosen against travelling back with the squad on the Magpies’ chartered flight due to high winds, Danny Rose, Nabil Bentaleb, Allan Saint-Maximin and Christian Atsu shared the journey back to Tyneside with some of the Toon Army.
Bentaleb speaks up for his teammates when criticised by the fan
Fellow new signing Rose was also on the train home
Footage has emerged online of some fans sidling up to the players and discussing how disappointed they were with the result.
On-loan midfielder Bentaleb is seen replying in one clip as fans question the efforts of him and his team-mates.
In another clip, a train attendant is seen asking two fans to leave with one muttering “disgrace” under his breath as he exits the first-class carriage.
Newcastle have reportedly played down the flashpoint and pictures online show the players posing for photographs with fans on the train out of Kings Cross.
As such, boss Steve Bruce has not taken any action and the four involved reported for training today as planned.
Instead the recriminations will focus on how the Toon turned a promising goalless scoreline at the break into a damaging defeat.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s 54th minute goal at Emirates Stadium opened the floodgates before Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil and Nicolas Pepe completed the rout.
The defeat means Newcastle, 13th and seven points clear of relegation, have won just once in the Premier League in two months.
Mesut Ozil finished off a fine 35-passing move as Arsenal won 4-0Credit: Getty Images – Getty
And fans were left divided when clips of the train altercation were posted online.
Evan tweeted: “That bloke is in the wrong they are just trying to get home after a tough game shouldn’t confront them, that’s to be talked about in the training ground.”
Another Toon supporter wrote: “Great way to sell the club to new players. Fans can be absolutely embarrassing at times.”
Dan simply commented: “Embarrassing.”
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
