The Gunners need a win on Saturday to return to the top of the Premier League table after surrendering their lead this week to Manchester City.
With City in their FA Cup semifinal against Southampton, Newcastle offer Arsenal the chance to reclaim the leadership.
However, Howe insists Newcastle's players won't simply lie down. The Toon manager says they know the traveling support deserve a performance and a result after a dismal few weeks.
He began at this morning's media preview: "It is definitely an opportunity for us. The next game is an opportunity to prove ourselves and we owe it to everybody at the club to try and get a result, like we did at Chelsea.
"When you have been in a difficult run it can feel like you've been in it a long period of time, particularly with an international break.
"I was pleased going into Palace and we didn't perform. I was pleased going into Bournemouth and we didn't perform. I have been pleased this week and hopefully we will see the fruits of our labour. I see a group that is switched on and a group that is hurting because of the results this season."
Howe also stated: "I was pleased going into Palace and we didn't perform. I was pleased going into Bournemouth and we didn't perform. I've been pleased this week, but I'm hoping that we see the fruits of our labor, we see a much better, coherent performance than we have.
"So I think the spirit in the group's good, although it's of course not the same as when you're winning. That's clear. There's been challenges for us, but I don't see a group that is in any way switched off and not ready to play."
Woltemade benching
Howe was pushed about his selection of Nick Woltemade, with the Germany striker being left on the bench for recent games. The manager hinted that it will be the same scenario for Arsenal.
He explained: "It is difficult because our centre forwards have been productive. Anthony Gordon played up front and was scoring as the number nine and now Will Osula has come in and scored as a number nine.
"At the minute we have gone with a different option to Nick. His fitness is fine. When he plays he has to deliver the goals we need."
Confirming Gordon will be missing due to injury, Howe insists Newcastle are capable of winning their final five games.
The Magpies sit in 14th place on the Premier League table and are eight points from the European places.
Howe said: "Five wins out of five are needed for ourselves, they're needed for the club, they're needed for everybody. So I don't think we're looking at it as for Europe.
"I think we're looking at it that we need to win a game. First step is win a game and then try and win another one, and that's what we're trying to do."
A difficult season
Howe was asked to reflect on this season and where he believes things have gone wrong.
He explained: "It's been difficult this year. We're never going to have a stable team because of the amount of games we've played. So we're always going to be with the run that we had, playing every three games. It was always going to be a sort of a state of rotation because very, very difficult to play the same players continually.
"But I think that was healthy for us at what sort of stages through the season because everyone was involved, everyone was playing a big part in our success. Now we're in a different moment in our season, we're playing week to week.
"We can potentially have a more stable team, but we haven't performed to the best level so I'm searching for, to a degree, the players that want to step up and play every week by performing at their best levels."
Howe added, "I think there's been so many games where we've been leading by a goal and we've had an opportunity to double that lead, and I think that would have made all the difference. We haven't been clinical in that moment, and then we haven't been clinical with our defending the other end. And I think we've ended up with some really tough defeats that we haven't necessarily deserved."
Elanga backing
Howe was also pushed to consider Anthony Elanga's season, with the Sweden winger strugging for consistency as Newcastle's form has nosedived.
While acknowleding Elanga's inconsistency, Howe insists there's belief inside the club that he can be a major player for Newcastle.
He said, "I think Ant's handled everything that he's faced this season with great integrity. He's a brilliant professional, someone that really works hard at his game. He's very level-headed, we don't see too many sort of extreme outbursts of emotion from Ant through the season.
"I think he will continue, in my opinion, to improve, to get better. I think he's got so much potential. We really believe in him, he's got outstanding qualities. Hopefully he can finish the season strong."