RAFA BENITEZ is not worried about Newcastle United’s position in the Premier League’s bottom three, even though he wants to see his team “manage” games better in a bid to find a first win of the season.

The Magpies have lost three of their opening four games in the league and the goalless draw at Cardiff City did little to inspire after a difficult summer on the transfer front at St James’ Park.

Throw in the fact that Newcastle lost at Nottingham Forest in the Carabao Cup and it is little wonder Benitez, his players and the fans are becoming increasingly desperate to celebrate a first win.

This Saturday will see Arsenal travel to Tyneside and it represents another fixture against tough opposition, with Benitez left nursing a narrow one-goal defeat to Tottenham, Chelsea and Manchester City already.

The Spaniard feels that is what everyone should remember as they look to climb out of the relegation zone, with Crystal Palace and Leicester City two further teams who will cause problems before the end of September even if they are not necessarily chasing Champions League spots.

"We know that we did well defensively as a team, as a unit, but we didn't do as well in transition and attack. That is a reality,” said Benitez. “To lose by a one-goal margin against three top sides, you can say that we were nearly there.

“To draw against Cardiff when we had the chance was a disappointment. The good thing is that we know that is the way, to keep working as hard as we did as a unit to defend. Also, we know that we have to be better in attack and take more chances if we want to win games."

He added: "The reality is that they knew already the fixtures were very difficult and it could be something like that. They know that doing things in the way they did last year, we can change things and be stronger and start getting points.

“Being in the bottom three is something you might expect when you look at our fixtures. Obviously we were confident we could get results against Cardiff and any of them and the reality is we were very close - but not close enough.

“Sometimes you need a bit of luck. Against Cardiff it was very clear: the penalty made a massive difference in the end. But against Tottenham we hit the post, the crossbar. We were close to having something that would give you more belief for the other games.

“Then we score against Chelsea and concede too early. You have to manage these games a bit better. Even against Nottingham Forest it was the same, we drew level but then conceded straight away. It's something you can do better, to manage the game in the last minutes. That comes down to experience.”

Just because Newcastle will have got a number of tough games out of the way against big opponents after Arsenal’s visit on Saturday, Benitez will not be taking anything for granted.

He believes in the players he has at his disposal and how they can adapt to the systems he presents to them, but he will be demanding more in a bid to get Newcastle moving in the right direction again.

Benitez said: "At the moment, we have to understand this is the situation. If mentally we can be ready to manage a situation like this one. Last year we were close to the bottom but I think (only) once we were there.

“Now, it's like that and could be like that. Some of the other teams are drawing and winning. Still we have difficult games to play. We have to manage this situation and be strong mentally and carry on doing the things we did well last year. That will be the key to winning games this year.”