Legendary former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer says that Arsenal transfer target Alexander Isak has been compared to Thierry Henry.
Arsenal are said to be keen to “reignite” their interest is signing Alexander Isak, who they were monitoring prior to his switch to Newcastle United in the summer 2022.
The Magpies paid £63 million to bring the Swedish forward to the Premier League, with him having previously plied his trade in Spain with Real Sociedad.
Since his arrival, the 24-year-old has impressed in the top flight of English football. Across 38 outings in the division for the Tyneside outfit, he has racked up 20 goals. So far this season, Isak has already netted 14 times across all competitions, with 23 appearances under his belt.
Beyond being a pure goalscorer, though, the 42-cap Sweden international has also caught the eye with his close control, skilful dribbling, and hold up play. Despite his 6’4” frame, which allows him to dominate physically and aerially, Isak also boasts quick feet and flair that makes him a nightmare for opposition defenders to deal with.
Alan Shearer has previously revealed just how highly thought of Isak is at St James’ Park. As quoted by The Athletic, he said, “the comparison they make within Newcastle’s coaching staff is to Thierry Henry. You can see it in that blistering pace, the languid grace, that gorgeous, fluid movement.”
Could Arsenal sign Alexander Isak?
To be compared with Thierry Henry, Arsenal’s all-time record goalscorer and one of the finest forwards to ever grace English football, is high praise indeed. However, given Isak’s skillset and style of play, it is not hard to see where the comparisons are drawn from. Whilst Isak obviously still has a long way to go before he can be said to have reached the French icon’s level, he is clearly a significant talent.
It is hard to see Newcastle sanctioning the sale of Isak anytime soon. However, Arsenal are clearly in the market for a striker, and have shown a willingness to spend heavily on their top targets in recent transfer windows, most notably with their club-record £105 million summer capture of Declan Rice.
The Gunners have been heavily linked with Brentford striker Ivan Toney, who could cost £100 million, and Napoli hitman Victor Osimhen who has an even more eye-watering price tag of £150 million.
If Mikel Arteta agrees with the Henry comparisons, then Isak could yet prove to be a feasible target for the north London club.
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