Arsenal vs. Newcastle United score: Gunners, Magpies settle for draw in battle of Premier League top three

A meeting of the best defenses in the Premier League led to a 0-0 draw between Arsenal and Newcastle United at the Emirates stadium on Tuesday. The league-leading Gunners have taken their advantage atop the table to eight points over Manchester City while Newcastle continue the longest unbeaten streak in the league stretching back to August when they fell to Liverpool.

Both teams had their chances in the match but managed to neutralize strikers Eddie Nketiah and Callum Wilson leading the line. Despite not being able to draw closer to the league leaders, this is a draw showing that Newcastle are not a team to be underestimated in the race for a Champions League place. 

The match felt like a true top-four clash with chances at a premium and cards handed out left and right. If anything, Arsenal’s protests for handballs during their attacks was a show of respect to the defensive job that the Magpies were doing. The match saw 25 shots taken but only five were on target between both teams. Given how easy Newcastle were to score against prior to Howe’s arrival, having them do the simple things while improving the squad has turned it around, especially with Kieran Trippier’s performances. 

The Magpies now haven’t allowed a goal in four consecutive league matches and six straight when extended to all competitions with Southampton netting the most recent goal against them on Nov. 6. Nick Pope has brought steady hands between the sticks while Trippier has helped stabilize what has been a fantastic defense.

One of Newcastle’s first marquee signings, the arrival of Trippier from Atletico Madrid established a culture in the defense. An England international, Trippier brought pedigree to the team and quickly became a leader that others could rely on. With seven recoveries during the match, he can also quickly turn defense into attack as shown in his three key passes. He also has a goal and four assists so far this season. 

Alongside him, the Magpies have built a defense that works well together. Fabian Schar’s aggressiveness is covered by Sven Botman’s calm positioning and then Dan Burn is unbeatable in the air. If all else fails, Pope is there to save. When teams come into money, they run the risk of trying to do too much too quickly but that doesn’t seem to be the case at Newcastle. 

Making shrewd purchases to build a cohesive unit, the team is arriving ahead of schedule to reclaim a place in Europe. Once they make it there, assuming they do, given the resources that are available, Newcastle will be in pursuit of big names, but it’s this careful planning and a Trippier-led defense that will be what has gotten them there.  

Late on, there was even a touchline coming together between Eddie Howe and Mikel Arteta after Arsenal wanted a late penalty shout that was denied. Granit Xhaka knocked the ball into a sliding Jacob Murphy and while it did strike Murphy’s hand he had nowhere to place it. While it wasn’t given, part of Arteta’s edge that he gives a team is that these rows can fire them up but it wasn’t enough to help breach this Newcastle defense.