Arsenal players and fans crying for Alexander Isak – You should love and embrace it | OneFootball

Arsenal fans taking about Alexander Isak.

Former Arsenal players talking about Alexander Isak.

As Newcastle United fans, don’t get upset about it.

Instead you should be embracing it, loving it.

Of course Arsenal fans are entitled, what’s new???

Of course former Arsenal players such as Paul Merson and Theo Walcott come across as arrogant (see below).

However, I love the fact that they are all crying on about wanting the Gunners to sign Alexander Isak.

Why wouldn’t you?

When you have top quality world class players, this comes with the territory.

We never had these worries when Emmanuel Riviere, Jeff Hendrick and Ryan Fraser were playing for Newcastle United, we couldn’t give them away.

The time to start worrying is when nobody is talking about your players.

Alexander Isak, Bruno Guimaraes, Nick Pope, Sven Botman, Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, Sandro Tonalis, Kieran Trippier, Harvey Barnes, Anthony Gordon… so many outstanding signings.

Joelinton, Fabian Schar, Sean Longstaff, Joe Willock… players that Eddie Howe has worked wonders with, getting them back playing to their full potential.

Back to Alexander Isak though and Arsenal fans (including their former players).

Of course it is embarrassing when they go on as if Alexander Isak, or indeed any other quality Newcastle United player, would automatically move to their club from St. James’ Park. As though they are something special.

Arsenal fans are truly a special bunch.

Such a high opinion of themselves and their club, that isn’t matched by the reality.

Eddie Howe has done an amazing job in such a short space of time, from what he inherited to what we have now at Newcastle United.

If Newcastle United retain Alexander Isak and the other quality players at the club, then add the odd other key signing on top of that, Eddie Howe and NUFC can really be in business and there will be plenty of Newcastle players that Arsenal fans will be fantasising about.

Paul Merson talking about Alexander Isak (and Arsenal) on Sky Sports – 10 November 2024:

“I think Alexander Isak is the missing link for Arsenal.

“He can do everything.

“He can come short, get in the box, he can spread the game.

“That’s what you need at Arsenal, so you can get people like Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka on the ball.

“At the moment, Arsenal are a bit congested and haven’t got that running beyond player who’s going to stretch the game.

“I’m a big fan of Alexander Isak, a really big fan.”

“I really like him, I thought his header last week against Arsenal was outstanding the way he got in between the two centre-halves.”

Theo Walcott talking about Alexander Isak (and Arsenal and Real Madrid) to BBC Sport – 11 November 2024:

“When you talk about the mould for the ultimate build of a perfect striker, Alexander Isak has got all of those elements.

“Alexander Isak is the sort of player Arsenal genuinely need, but you would say everyone needs a player like him in their team right now, even Liverpool, and it is not just Premier League teams who will be trying to get hold of him either.

“Look at Real Madrid’s line-up at this moment in time. I would say that if you put Alexander Isak in that Real team then he moulds them together in a different way, where you might think they now look like a very well-balanced team.

“That’s the level he’s at and I can absolutely understand why all the very top teams would want him.

“There is more to come from him as well. Newcastle are a good team but put him in a better team and he would get better too.

“Watching Arsenal, they are not one-dimensional but their attacks can be a little bit predictable at times.

“Imagine them having the option of a player like Isak who can genuinely do everything, and then put Odegaard, for instance, behind him.

“Kai Havertz has been brilliant at leading the line, up to a point, but we are talking about Arsenal challenging to win the league, and they need that next level of player to do that.

“Isak would be it, at any club, but if Arsenal do want him then they have to get in there quick, because Real Madrid, or someone like that, are going come knocking, and his price is only going to go up.

“The ability to rotate positions and occupy every role in a frontline is part of what makes Alexander Isak a constant threat. As a player he is something pretty unique in the Premier League right now, and for me he is the closest thing we have seen to another Thierry Henry.

“Henry started out wide, so he knew that role very well, and Isak’s pace and strength means he is excellent in those areas too. But where Henry was not particularly great was with his back to goal, or heading the ball, and Isak can head it – the perfect example of that was his winning goal against Arsenal last week.

“I would say he is this generation’s Henry, but with extra attributes in the air. That’s who I would compare him to from my era, anyway.