Arsenal 0 Newcastle United 0
- Attendance:
- 60319
- Referee:
- Andy Madley
Newcastle United were held to a goalless draw away at Premier League leaders Arsenal in their first game of 2023 on Tuesday night.
After keeping the Gunners at bay in the opening stages of the first-half, Joelinton went narrowly close to breaking the deadlock before half-time at the Emirates Stadium after heading wide from Kieran Trippier's corner.
In a lively encounter in the capital, with nine yellow cards brandished in total by referee Andy Madley, Eddie Howe's side produced a valiant defensive performance to record a sixth consecutive clean sheet in a row across all competitions, with Nick Pope equalling the 41-year club record held by former goalkeeper Kevin Carr.
Howe made one change to the starting 11 which were held to a goalless draw against Leeds United at St. James' Park on Saturday as Callum Wilson started in place of Chris Wood in attack ahead of facing Mikel Arteta's Gunners, who were targeting an 11th consecutive Premier League win on home soil.
Newcastle withheld an early attacking surge from the hosts as Martin Ødegaard latched onto a loose ball inside the penalty area before the Arsenal captain fired a volley over the crossbar.
Pope, targeting a tenth Premier League clean sheet so far this season, denied fellow England team-mate Bukayo Saka shortly after the Gunners winger's close-range effort forced the Newcastle shot-stopper into an important close-range stop with his right leg.
Newcastle faced a further shot towards their own goal as Granit Xhaka latched onto Gabriel Martinelli's pass, following Saka's dangerous run from distance, but the Switzerland international smashed his effort into the side-netting.
Wilson created United's sole shot on target during the first-half as the England international collected Fabian Schär's forward pass before his low shot was comfortably held by Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale.
Newcastle, aiming to end a ten-game losing streak at the Emirates Stadium, survived a further scare from the Premier League leaders after the half-hour mark as Ødegaard's teasing free-kick was headed wide by Gabriel.
On the stroke of half-time, Joelinton squandered a key chance to send the visitors ahead as Schär's deft flick from Kieran Trippier's inviting corner was directed into the Brazilian's path but saw his headed attempt inside the six-yard area fly wide of the target.
Martinelli, who scored against the Magpies in last season's fixture in November 2021, let fly from the edge of the box but the South American forward's strike was saved by the alert Pope.
Newcastle were relieved to remain on level terms in the closing stages as Martinelli rose high from Ødegaard's dangerous corner but the Brazilian's header flew narrowly past the far left-hand post.
With the full-time whistle approaching, Pope produced an excellent stop to deny Eddie Nketiah after the Arsenal striker fired a low effort towards the right-hand corner but the in-form goalkeeper was on hand to block the attempt with his left leg.
In the dying seconds, the hosts were left appealing for a penalty after believing substitute Jacob Murphy handled the ball following Xhaka's lofted cross but the decision was waved away as United held firm for a deserved point extending their unbeaten run to 15 matches in all competitions to the delight of the 3,000 away supporters.
Highlights