Arsenal handed clear Alexander Isak warning as £84m star emerges as transfer solution
The 2024/25 Premier League campaign feels very much like a make-or-break campaign for Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, but not in the way you may think.
The Gunners boss has shown he's undoubtedly the man to lead the club forward, signing a new three-year deal at the Emirates Stadium. The club have been revitalised since he took over at the helm, going close to winning the Premier League title in the past two seasons, only to be pipped by his former 'master' Pep Guardiola.
Arsenal fans will be hoping this season is the year Arteta steps out from the shadow of his former boss to establish himself as one of the Premier League's top coaches. The Gunners have not won a top-flight title since The Invincibles campaign back in 2003/04.
Many have tried to follow in Arsene Wenger's footsteps and deliver a Premier League title, with the man himself struggling to repeat former glories in the latter stages of his tenure. Arteta has gone the closest over the past two seasons.
Like that of his former boss Guardiola, Arteta has shown he's not afraid to evolve the Gunners year on year. Moving on to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the first sign of his willingness to adapt, and there's been plenty more examples since then.
Having run City close twice in the last two campaigns, the Arsenal boss has bolstered and tinkered his squad once again, but are they missing that all-important piece of the jigsaw - a striker?
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Kai Havertz has impressed in that position in recent months; a glance at City and Erling Haaland tells you everything you need to know about what's needed to win silverware. Gabriel Jesus is the only out-and-out striker at the club after Eddie Nketiah's departure this summer, and it's a position that needs strengthening.
Sure, they have plenty of goals from across their forward line, but they've not yet been able to stumble across a winning formula. Newcastle United's Alexander Isak appeared to be a solution during the recent summer transfer window, but the Magpies high asking price meant a deal didn't come to fruition.
Having been compared to Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, it's a transfer that would make perfect sense; after all, Isak bagged 21 goals in the top flight last season and finished the campaign as the Premier League's third-highest goal scorer behind Haaland and Cole Palmer. Bukayo Saka was the top scorer for the Gunners in the top flight last season with 16 goals, finishing in ninth place.
Jesus scored just four times in the Premier League last season in 27 appearances, having struggled with injuries since his move from Manchester City. The year prior, he managed 11 goals in 26 top-flight outings and is yet to play more than 30 Premier League games in a single season for Arsenal.
There lies an issue for Arteta when you compare him to the likes of Haaland, who has played over 100 times in all competitions, scoring 100 goals since arriving from Borussia Dortmund two seasons ago. Isak has had similar injury woes at Newcastle United since his move to the Premier League, making just 22 Premier League appearances in his first campaign before an improved 30 last season.
Those stats are more impressive than Jesus and suggest the Swedish striker will be an upgrade on what Arteta's side already have, but another injury on international duty raises concerns. Isak is a doubt for Newcastle's clash with Fulham this afternoon, and the Gunners may have done the right thing by waiting to splash the cash on a number nine.
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Fellow Swede Viktor Gyokeres is another potential target for Arsenal and has made a blistering start to the campaign with Sporting. The former Coventry City striker has scored nine goals in seven outings, notching three assists so far this season, adding to the 43 goals and 15 assists he managed last season in 50 appearances.
Gyokeres' numbers are far superior to both Isak and Jesus in terms of minutes played, barely missing a game since his move to Coventry in 2021. The Portuguese club slapped a €100million release clause in the 26-year-old's contract, making him a cheaper alternative to Isak too.
Arteta's side should be keeping a close eye on the 6ft2 striker this season, with a view to signing him in the summer. He may well be the missing piece of their jigsaw.