Dan Gunning For Victory At Arsenal

By Tom Easterby - Newcastle United Club Reporter

Captain Dan Barlaser is eyeing another away day victory in the capital when Newcastle United Under-21s head to the Emirates Stadium to take on Arsenal on Friday night.

Barlaser was part of the Magpies side that beat the Gunners 2-1 away from home last season.

A brace from centre half Remie Streete saw United take all three points back to Tyneside back in September 2014, despite Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill's late consolation.

And 19-year-old Barlaser - whose corner was nodded in by Streete for the opener in that game at Boreham Wood's Meadow Park - says that another win down south is well within reach if Peter Beardsley's youngsters can start the game like they ended Monday night's clash at Swansea City.

"No-one's played there yet. It's a massive stadium, 60,000 I think it is, and it's really good to be going to Arsenal. We've had a couple of good results recently going there, and hopefully we can get another one after Monday night's performance in the second half," he said.

"If we can carry on like that attacking-wise and sort the defending out, I think we can get a good result."

United were beaten 5-3 at the Liberty Stadium on Monday despite a second-half recovery, in which goals from Barlaser and Callum Roberts looked like they might spark a fightback.

It didn't materialise, but Barlaser said the way his team responded to a difficult first half meant that the eventual scoreline appears slightly harsh on the Magpies.

"We started off really well, had a lot of possession and did what we were supposed to do. We had a shot on target early and controlled the game, and their first goal was just a lack of concentration," he said.

"But we bounced back with a really good goal, a back post cross from Jamie (Sterry) and a good header from Luke (Charman).

"The second goal was another lapse of concentration in the box and the third and fourth goal kind of put us out of the game then."

Barlaser added: "But when we got the second goal, we had a bit of belief and they started to worry a bit, hoofing the ball and taking their time and that kind of stuff, and I think the character from us was really good all the way through the game.

"Even at 5-3, we had loads of chances and I really think we could have got something out of that game. We didn't deserve to get beat like that."

The trip to Arsenal is United's penultimate Barclays Under-21 Premier League fixture of the campaign, with the visit of Brighton to St. James' Park on Monday bringing the curtain down on the season.

And skipper Barlaser says this hectic week of games is the ideal time for the squad to show what they're capable of as they all battle for places.

"Having three games in the space of a week is massive," he said. "It's good for some of the younger lads - Nathan (Harker) did really well against Swansea, (Ben) Kitchen came on, Callum Smith - all the lads have got a really good chance to show themselves and us, as senior players, we need to help them."