EDDIE HOWE is more than happy with the way in which his Newcastle United side rattled Arsenal this week – and has told the rest of the Premier League, ‘We are not here to be popular’.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was clearly frustrated after his team were unable to break down an obdurate Newcastle rearguard on Tuesday, bemoaning refereeing decisions and the way in which his side’s opponents were looking to break up the rhythm of the game at every opportunity.

Arsenal’s players were unhappy with what they regarded to be time-wasting tactics, with their mounting anger matching the general mood of the home support at the Emirates.

Howe denies that Newcastle set out to purposefully adopt spoiling tactics, but the Magpies head coach was in no mood to make any apologies for his side’s increasingly streetwise approach to their games.

“We are not here to be popular and to get other teams to like us,” he said. “We are here to compete and, to compete, we have to give everything to try and get a positive result. I’ve got no issue saying that. That is our job and that's what we're going to try and continue to do.”

Newcastle’s midweek clean sheet means they continue to boast the best defensive record in the Premier League, with Howe claiming the experience of the club’s defensive additions has made a huge difference to their ability to keep opponents at arm’s length.

“I don't think you can underestimate that,” he said. “When you look at a lot of the players we brought in last January, they had a lot of experience and games behind them. That know-how, whether that be Kieran (Trippier) with England, international experience, and Dan Burn with a long career in lots of different leagues, that can only make you more streetwise just by bringing that experience to the group.

“Now, we have a nice mix of youth and experience. That combination, and trying just to add little bits every game of how we can manage situations better, has helped us.”