Arsenal fell to a 1-0 defeat away at Newcastle, which yet again exposed their lack of attacking firepower in difficult situations.
Mikel Arteta’s side started the game brightly, but Alexander Isak finished with an excellent header to give Newcastle the lead in the first half, and Arsenal had no response.
Arsenal registered just one shot on target in the entire game, but they did miss a huge chance through Declan Rice at the end, and they could have certainly done with an attacking player of Isak’s quality.
Mikel Arteta asked if he would like to sign Alexander Isak
Isak was the decisive player in the game, and he has been linked with a big-money move to Arsenal, and Arteta was then asked whether he would have preferred to have the Swede in his squad.
“I don’t know. I love my players and I wouldn’t change them for anybody else,” Arteta replied.
Isak was linked with Arsenal before he joined Newcastle from Real Sociedad in 2022, and he has recently been linked again.
Alexander Isak could improve Arsenal’s attack
Creativity was a huge problem for Arsenal, but a striker of Isak’s quality would still improve them going forward.
Newcastle created less xG (expected goals) than Arsenal on the day, but the difference was the quality of Isak’s finishing compared to the visitors.
The Sweden star would add speed, agility, height and a deadly finishing ability to Arsenal’s attack, and fans will now hope that Arteta makes a move for him next summer.
Arsenal fans have been critical of Arteta’s squad building when it comes to attacking players. Plenty of defenders have been signed, but this has not been matched in the front line, and a signing like Isak could be game-changing.
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