Newcastle United's formidable defender Dan Burn has made a startling admission about facing Arsenal's star-studded attack, revealing he felt genuine fear going up against the Gunners' Champions League-calibre forwards.
The 6ft 7in centre-back, known for his no-nonsense defending and aerial dominance, confessed that Arsenal's quality left him feeling vulnerable during their recent Premier League encounter.
'They Made Me Feel Uncomfortable' - Burn's Candid Confession
In a remarkably honest assessment, Burn didn't shy away from describing the psychological challenge of facing Mikel Arteta's attacking unit. "There were moments against Arsenal where I felt properly scared," the defender revealed. "When you're up against that level of quality, it does something to your confidence."
The Magpies have endured a difficult start to the 2024/25 campaign, with Burn's admission shedding light on the mental battles players face when competing against the Premier League's elite attacking forces.
Newcastle's Defensive Struggles Continue
Eddie Howe's side have found clean sheets hard to come by this season, with their defensive vulnerabilities being exposed by top-quality opposition. Burn's comments highlight the gulf in class Newcastle must bridge to consistently compete with teams like Arsenal who regularly feature in European competition.
The towering defender's unusual candour provides rare insight into the psychological warfare that occurs at the highest level of English football, where moments of doubt can prove decisive in tightly contested matches.
Road to Recovery for Magpies
Despite the sobering assessment, Burn remains confident that Newcastle can turn their season around. The defender's willingness to acknowledge these challenges publicly demonstrates the character within the Magpies' dressing room as they seek solutions to their early-season struggles.
Howe's men now face the task of rebuilding their defensive solidity while maintaining the attacking threat that made them so formidable last season. With several key fixtures approaching, Newcastle fans will be hoping their team can rediscover the form that earned them European qualification in previous campaigns.
