Dan Burn names three Newcastle players who impressed him vs Arsenal

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Dan Burn produced an impressive display vs Arsenal on Tuesday night, but he needed a lot of help from his Newcastle United teammates.

The Magpies held the Premier League leaders to a 0-0 draw in their first game of 2023, and showcased the attributes that made them so successful in 2022. It was a real battle at the Emirates, with Newcastle refusing to roll over and take a beating.

Eddie Howe’s side stood up to Arsenal, and massively frustrated the Gunners. There was furry inside Emirates Stadium, with Mikel Arteta’s team unable to break down a stubborn Toon defence. It was the first time this season that they have failed to score.

Arsenal fans will point to a couple of penalty calls that didn’t go their way, but the main talking point from the game should be Newcastle’s resilience at the back – although one of the penalties should have been given for a shirt pull by Burn…

Newcastle got away with one there, but it was a game played with plenty of fight and endeavour, which is what you expect from two teams scrapping at the top end of the table.

Once the full time whistle blew, it was Newcastle celebrating rather than Arsenal. A point on the road was a good result for us, and it would not have been possible without the Magpies’ desire to dig in and defend.

Who impressed Burn vs Arsenal

After the game, Burn spoke to NUFC TV. He was asked about Newcastle keeping a sixth clean sheet in a row.

“Really proud of the lads,” Burn said.

“That’s not just the back four and the keeper – that’s from right the way from the front to the back. We defend as a team.

“The help me and Tripps got with the wingers from Joey and Maxi and Joe Willock, especially on my side, helped loads and we grew into the game.

“A couple of years back I think we would have got absolutely battered there, but we showed real resilience as a team.”

A real team effort from Newcastle

Arsenal made a real effort to hurt Newcastle down the flanks through Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, but they couldn’t do it. And that is largely down to the help that Burn and Kieran Trippier received.

Joelinton was magnificent down the left, while Miguel Almiron did the same for Trippier on the right. The midfielders also did a brilliant job of coming across to cover, with Burn praising Joe Willock for the job he did.

This Newcastle team works for each other. As Burn says, we defend as a team. And that is why we were able to hold on for a well deserved point.

Howe has given a steeliness to this side that had been lost in recent years. We have seen plenty of soft-centred Newcastle teams roll over and get a pasting. But not this incarnation of Howe’s team.

The Toon boss was previously criticised for not being able to set a team up defensively. He has silenced the doubters, and his clean sheet machine remains third in the Premier League.