This was the day when Eddie Howe channelled his inner Mikel Arteta.
"My fire is there," the Newcastle United head coach said as he echoed words from his Arsenal counterpart.
"There's loads of wood stacked up."
Having appeared a little flat at his news conference a week previously – even before a subsequent defeat against Crystal Palace – a defiant Howe came out fighting on Friday.
The head coach certainly has to rouse his side into life before the visit of Bournemouth on Saturday.
There have been some strong words on the training ground this week and Howe is again expected to make changes as he looks to finally defeat his former club in the Premier League for the first time.
Captain Bruno Guimaraes is among those desperate to be involved after recovering from illness and injury.
Understandably so.
Newcastle are languishing in the bottom half of the table and have lost six of their last nine games in all competitions.
Such a run has led to Howe's future coming under increased scrutiny.
"I just want serve the club and do what's right for the football club," he added. "That's always been my aim.
"If that's me leaving to help the club, then of course that's something I'll do, I've got no issue doing that. It's not about me.
"But if I believe I'm the right person to take the club forward, which I do currently right now, then I'll do that and I'll fight to the end. I'll fight harder than I've ever fought before."
