Newcastle United's squad have agreed to cancel their own Christmas party.

A delegation led by captain Jamaal Lascelles explained to manager Rafa Benitez this week that they had scrapped their annual booze-up.

"The players have decided to cancel their Christmas party because they have taken responsibility and think it's important to focus on football," explained Benitez ahead of Saturday's trip to Arsenal.

"They want to give a very clear message that they care and they want to do things right.

"There was no pressure from me. I was asking four or five players about it and they were very clear, 'Oh no, we cannot', and that was it. They talked between themselves and decided. I think it's the right thing.

"This group of players are working so hard, so I could not have said to them, 'You do not deserve to do this or that'. They are giving everything but they have decided this and I think that's very positive."