Dan Burn: 'Frustratingly enough, Kai Havertz is quite a nice guy'

Dan Burn has admitted that Kai Havertz is “actually, frustratingly enough, quite a nice guy” despite the pair developing one of the Premier League’s more unlikely on-field feuds in recent years.

The Newcastle United defender revealed that the two met for a drink during pre-season in Singapore, offering a rare moment of calm between two players who have clashed repeatedly across fixtures involving Chelsea, Newcastle, and now Arsenal.

Burn said the brief meeting helped them put their run-ins behind them, describing the conversation as straightforward and good-natured.

“We had time to go for a few drinks and we saw some of the Arsenal lads,” Burn explained.

“I just got chatting to him. We both said, ‘That’s just the way it is when we play.’ He’s actually sound.”

Their history has been far less friendly.

Burn’s first major run-in with Havertz came during the German’s Chelsea spell, when the forward caught him with an elbow that required stitches, only to score the late winner in the same match.

The pair collided again at St James’ Park later that season, and the tone of the rivalry changed little when Havertz moved to Arsenal.

The forward’s full-blooded challenge on Sean Longstaff in November 2023 sparked another confrontation, with Burn stepping in immediately to defend his teammate.

Burn even referenced the ongoing feud earlier this year with a tongue-in-cheek “Kai Havertz, my guy” comment during a club quiz video that amused Newcastle supporters.

However, the defender insists the competitive edge is confined to the pitch.

Burn said the meeting in Singapore helped both players acknowledge the intensity required when top-six clubs face each other.

“It’s just the level you’ve got to be at,” he said.

Burn also reflected on the physical toll of the previous season after revealing he broke a bone in his back later in that same Arsenal match but returned quickly due to Newcastle’s injury problems.

He admitted he struggled for form while pushing to play through the issue, noting that “you just keep going” when fans are scrutinising every performance.

The Newcastle defender has since returned to more consistent levels and remains in contention for the 2026 World Cup after being selected in all five of Thomas Tuchel’s England squads so far.

For Arsenal, Havertz’s growing reputation on and off the pitch continues to strengthen his influence, and Burn’s comments offer a more personal perspective on a player often defined by his competitive edge.

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