Eddie Howe has advised Anthony Gordon to disregard ongoing transfer speculation linking him with Arsenal, stating that the Newcastle United forward must remain fully focused during a critical phase of his career.

Media reports indicate that Arsenal are considering a summer move for the 25-year-old, whose recent performances have increased his market value and visibility. Gordon scored four goals in Newcastle’s Champions League playoff first leg against Qarabag, a contribution that has reinforced external interest in him.

Howe, referencing the disruption caused by Alexander Isak’s transfer to Liverpool the previous summer, indicated he does not want a similar situation to affect the current squad. At the same time, he acknowledged that transfer rumours are now a standard feature of top-level football.

Howe stated that he had not personally seen the latest reports but stressed that Gordon is in the middle of some of the most important matches of his career, both at club level and potentially at international level in the coming months. According to Howe, this context leaves little room for the player to be distracted by external narratives.

Gordon has recently reaffirmed his commitment to Newcastle, having signed a long-term contract in October. He has publicly dismissed suggestions of an imminent departure and has identified consistent performance as his main objective, particularly with a view to earning selection for Thomas Tuchel’s England squad for the World Cup.

Howe’s position is that the most effective response to speculation is to ignore it. He argued that rumours only become a problem if players actively engage with them, noting that a large proportion of such stories never reach him directly. He framed transfer talk as an inevitable consequence of playing at an elite level.

Howe added that players should “put it out of your brain and focus on the football,” highlighting Newcastle’s congested fixture schedule as a practical reason to avoid distractions. He stated that full concentration on each match is required.

Addressing the broader issue of multiple Newcastle players being linked with moves away, Howe attributed much of the speculation to the media industry. He described these stories as largely irrelevant unless players allow them to influence their mindset and expressed confidence that his squad is mentally strong enough to disregard them.