Admitting they're in arrears while holding new top (6)
I believe the answer is:
owning
'admitting' is the definition.
(I've seen this before)
'in arrears while holding new top' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite understand how this works, but
'in' is found in the answer.
'new' could be 'n' (common abbreviation eg NT for New Testament) and 'n' is located in the answer.
This may be the basis of the clue (or it may be nonsense).
'they're' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for owning that I've seen before include "Possessing" , "Admitting" , "In legal possession of" , "Possesing" , "Conceding - possession" .)