Arsenal: Forget Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko - Mikel Arteta's ideal striker is much closer to home

Evening Standard

·18 November 2024

Arsenal: Forget Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko - Mikel Arteta's ideal striker is much closer to home

Newcastle talisman Alexander Isak is the perfect fit for the Gunners as they hunt a major new addition up front

When he is being quizzed about his future at Newcastle, it would appear that Alexander Isak is just as composed as when he is in front of goal.

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The Sweden striker was pressed during the international break over whether he could be leaving St James’ Park next summer, with Arsenal touted as his most likely destination.

Reports of contract talks stalling have only added further fuel to the fire, but Isak is refusing to let it distract him.

“Throughout my career, I have never talked about or really commented on the move rumours during the season,” he told Fotbollskanalen in Sweden.

“There have been many such years where it has been talked about. It doesn’t affect me. I am commenting on my situation in Newcastle, and I have never had any problem there.

“I am fully focused on my task there and that we will have a fantastic season. There are still great opportunities for that. I have no thoughts about anything else.

“The only thing I can say is that a lot of information and rumours often come out. Much of what I read is not true. So that’s about all I can say about the whole thing.”

It is not hard to see why Arsenal are interested in Isak. Only Erling Haaland and Cole Palmer scored more goals in the Premier League last season, while he has struck four times in nine games so far this campaign.

Arsenal will look to bolster their forward line next summer and have been linked with a number of strikers, including RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko and Sporting’s Viktor Gyokeres.

Both players, like Isak, boast impressive records in front of goal and would undoubtedly give the Gunners more firepower.

Isak, however, has the added bonus of being Premier League proven, which is a trait Arsenal have favoured in their most recent transfer business.

Isak is a proven Premier League star who offers Arsenal valuable versatility

Declan Rice, Jorginho and Leandro Trossard are all signings that point towards that fact and Isak would fall into the same category.

HIs versatility also works in his favour. Arsenal’s form this season has shown how they need more depth through the middle and out wide in attack.

Isak can play as a conventional No9, but he is also able to operate out left, too. In that sense, it is easy to see how he could work with Arsenal’s preferred striker, Kai Havertz, for some games, as opposed to replacing him in the team.

Havertz has performed well as a No9 for Arsenal since the turn of the year, but he needs greater competition. Gabriel Jesus has struggled with form and injury, which has put greater pressure on the German.

Isak would offer competition and also a different way of playing for Mikel Arteta’s side. Havertz has acted as focal point for the attack, bringing others into the game with his link play.

Isak, despite being 6ft 4ins tall, is not a target man and instead he would offer the most threat by running in behind. Arsenal have that out wide at the moment, through the likes of Gabriel Martinelli, but not through the middle.

Martin Odegaard is another factor in Isak’s favour. The pair played together at Real Sociedad, when Odegaard spent the 2019/20 season on loan from Real Madrid.

They performed well together, forming an effective understanding, and the chance of a reunion at Arsenal is an exciting prospect. The Gunners have watched Isak since his days at Sociedad and were heavily linked with a move for him in January 2022.

Newcastle signed Isak the following summer and the challenge for Arsenal now would be convincing them to sell. Eddie Howe has repeatedly stressed how the club have no plans to let the 25-year-old go and that he is a key part of their plans going forward. Only time will tell if that resolve fades.