Newcastle United great Alan Shearer is worried about Eddie Howe's team.
Speaking to the BBC, Shearer delivered a brutal but honest assessment of United's troubles ahead of a massive week in which they faced survival rivals, Norwich and Burnley.
"They have been really poor at the back all season," he said. "And it was the same at Emirates Stadium.
"I know they were playing much better opposition and were away from home, but the fundamentals of defending are still the same and Newcastle are lacking them at the moment.
"Any time anyone gets near their box, it scares me, because they cannot defend.
"They have got a couple of players suspended for the Norwich game - left-back Matt Ritchie and centre-half Jamaal Lascelles both miss out - but the way those two have been playing, I don't necessarily think that is a bad thing.
"In the early stages against Arsenal, there were a few encouraging signs - I thought Newcastle looked organised and competed well, but even then the Gunners created some big chances in the first half.
"Yes, things were better than they had been but it didn't last. If Newcastle are going to dig themselves out of this hole, they can't just play like that for 30 or 35 minutes - it has to be the full 90.
"To put it bluntly, they are going to have to start defending a heck of a lot better than they have been, otherwise their season - and top-flight status - could well be over before they know it."
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