Newcastle United are still flying in third place after the Magpies frustrated league leaders Arsenal during a goalless draw at the Emirates on Tuesday night.
Newcastle's defence held firm against the rampant league leaders as Eddie Howe's side became the first team to take a point at Arsenal this season and the first to stop the Gunners scoring. In truth, aside from a crucial late save to deny Eddie Nketiah, Newcastle goalkeeper Nick Pope had little to do in a game of few clearcut chances.
Here are five things we learned from Newcastle's first game of 2023.
READ MORE: Arsenal vs Newcastle United highlights
Arsenal see a nasty Newcastle at the Emirates
Newcastle had not previously picked up a single point at Arsenal for more than 12 years and you had to go back to 2014 for the last time the black-and-whites had even scored at the Emirates. However, this is a very different side now.
Whereas Newcastle once travelled to the capital in fear - paying the Gunners undue respect at times - the Magpies were not cowed this time around. After all, having defeated Spurs and Chelsea earlier this season, and taken points off Man City and Manchester United, Newcastle players genuinely believed they could get something - by hook or by crook.
Arsenal may have been in scintillating form, but Newcastle had also just lost one game themselves all season so the visitors had no inferiority complex as first faced off against third under the lights. Yet this was not the open contest neutrals were hoping for.
After a difficult opening, Newcastle had to dig in and the visitors soon broke up the flow of the game as it became a skirmish, which was not helped by whistle-happy referee Andy Madley. Although Bruno Guimaraes and Callum Wilson were the first to go into the book, the stop-start nature of the game actually suited Newcastle, who showed the uglier side of their game as they frustrated Arsenal supporters.
Indeed, it was noticeable how Newcastle players demanded yellow cards and surrounded the referee when they felt they had been fouled - and that appeared to influence Madley. The referee ended up booking Eddie Nketiah, Martin Odegaard and Granit Xhaka before half-time.
It became a feisty game and when Arsenal had a late penalty appeal waved away, after the ball struck Jacob Murphy's arm, even the usually measured Eddie Howe exchanged some stern words with Mikel Arteta on the touchline after the Gunners boss' wild reaction.
Defence holds firm once more
If there was ever going to be a side to keep rampant Arsenal out, it was Newcastle. Not only were Newcastle the last team to pick up a clean sheet against the Gunners in the Premier League back in May; the Magpies also have the best defence in the top-flight. In fact, no other team in the Premier League has kept more shutouts (10) this season than Newcastle, who have now kept six clean sheets in a row, which has equalled a club record.
Newcastle have a settled backline in Kieran Trippier, Fabian Schar, Sven Botman and Dan Burn; a goalkeeper in Nick Pope who can produce a huge save when he is having an otherwise quiet night as he did to deny Eddie Nketiah late on; and tireless midfielders and forwards who all know their jobs out of possession and all help to protect their defence. It said it all that Miguel Almiron, Newcastle's top scorer, made more tackles (five) than any other player on the pitch in the first half against Arsenal.
That defence was certainly tested in the early stages on Tuesday night following a relentless start from Arsenal; Martin Odegaard volleyed over in the third minute and, then, just a couple of minutes later, Pope kept out Saka's effort from close range with his feet. The in-form Saka caused Newcastle real problems down the visitors' left-hand side as Arsenal targeted Dan Burn, but Howe's side adapted as Burn dropped off and either Joelinton or Joe Willock got back to protect the defender.
That resilience and teamwork was crucial to Newcastle claiming a precious point and when Pope was called upon, the goalkeeper stepped up.
Newcastle show other side of the game
There were feelings of 'frustration and disappointment' in the Newcastle dressing room after the goalless draw against Leeds United on New Year's Eve. With that in mind, the Magpies' response at Arsenal was going to be telling after their six-game Premier League winning streak came to an end last time out.
Newcastle did everything but score in the 0-0 stalemate last week, but the mark of a true contender is bouncing back after dropping points - and Howe's side quickly had the chance to do just that at the Emirates with the eyes of the world watching on.
Yet, whereas Newcastle were the dominant side against Leeds, after having five times as many shots on target, nine corners and more possession, the Magpies had to show the other side of their game on Tuesday night. Newcastle weathered an early storm and turned it into a bitty game, and having those two different sides seen against both Leeds and Arsenal in a matter of days will serve the Magpies well.
Callum Wilson returns but Newcastle lack threat
After returning to full training last week, following a bout of illness, Callum Wilson was back in the starting line-up as Eddie Howe made just one change and picked the same side that defeated Spurs on Newcastle's last trip to London. Chris Wood has stepped up to lead the line in Wilson's absence, but the Magpies have a completely different dimension up front when the number nine is on song. Arsenal knew that only too well after Wilson caused the Gunners' defence real problems in the reverse fixture last season with both his movement and how he pressed from the front.
However, Wilson was starved on Tuesday night, and looked isolated for large spells, and Newcastle ultimately created their best opening of the game from a set-piece before half-time when Kieran Trippier's corner was flicked on by Schar to Joelinton at the back post. However, Joelinton, somehow, headed over.
In an effort to try and impact the game, Howe threw on both Chris Wood and Jacob Murphy midway through the second half but the pair did not trouble Ramsdale and the Magpies just lacked that bit of quality in the final third that Alexander Isak and Allan Saint-Maximin (who came on at the death) will provide when they are fully fit and firing. As dogged as Newcastle were without the ball, Howe will have wanted to see more from his side going forward.
Martin Dubravka back in the fold in new role
Martin Dubravka was only recalled from his loan spell at Manchester United on New Year's Day, but the Newcastle goalkeeper was quickly back in the fold just two days later after making the bench against Arsenal. The Slovakia international started between the posts in the corresponding fixture last season, but he has a new role at Newcastle now - if he chooses to stay this month - and that is to push and support number one Nick Pope.
Dubravka appears to have accepted that now after losing his spot to Pope at the start of the season. Indeed, the veteran said he will give his 'all' to contribute in 'any way' he can in the second half of the campaign. Whether another club tests that stance with a fresh loan offer remains to be seen.
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