Eddie Howe simply cannot start £13m Newcastle player vs Arsenal, it would be major mistake

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There is one Newcastle United player who is suffering a really bad run of form at the moment and Eddie Howe simply cannot play him against Arsenal.

Newcastle will come up against one of the league’s best attacks in the Premier League on Saturday and their defensive struggles will have supporters very worried for the game.

One player in particular who has come under a lot of criticism is Dan Burn and playing him up against an in-form Bukayo Saka would be a huge risk from Howe given his abilities.

Howe must play to Newcastle’s strengths vs Arsenal

It is fair to say that Burn, who cost the club £13m two years ago, has his own unique strengths and there’s certainly a reason why he’s been one of Howe’s key players during his time here as Newcastle achieved Champions League status last year.

However, to be a top manager you cannot have any loyalties and must be ruthless in your decision making by playing to your strengths against teams who perhaps offer something a bit different.

Saka is known for his speed and ability to take players out of the game with his pace or picking out a key pass, and Newcastle must counter this with the inclusion of Tino Livramento at left-back.

Howe is likely to keep his usual 4-3-3 formation which has brought him so much joy at Newcastle, so if there’s not going to be as much protection at left-back then he must opt for the quicker and more agile defender.

Livramento is Newcastle’s long-term star

Livramento has proven time and time again to be defensively sound and a real attacking threat either playing down the left or the right and he has the potential to go to the very top in football.

You don’t pay £32m for a defender if you don’t think they have the ability to be part of the first team, and that’s what makes Howe’s reluctance to start the 21-year-old so strange.

Against PSG and Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and Man City and Man United in the Carabao Cup we saw what Livramento was capable of, yet as soon as Burn was back he was dropped to the bench.

Now, Howe has a big decision to make with Burn consistently struggling and Newcastle leaking goals from all angles but especially down that left-hand side.