With Arsenal's January encompassed by a search for a striker, David Ornstein said the club "missed their chance" to sign one of the Premier League's best months before he even arrived in England.

With Gabriel Jesus out for the rest of the season with a devastating ACL injury, the Gunners are missing an out-and-out striker in the number nine position, relying on goals from other positions. It was clear that their aim in January was to fill the position, but with clubs holding tightly onto their goal machines, the window provided no remedies.

Alexander Isak has been linked with Arsenal over the past few years with the Swedish international thought to be Mikel Arteta's "perfect" signing. The 25-year-old was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates while playing in La Liga in January 2022 but the deal fell through and Isak signed for Newcastle the following summer.

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Since arriving in the North East, Isak has developed into one of the league's most deadly strikers, scoring 48 goals so far and becoming an integral part of the Newcastle project. According to The Telegraph Newcastle value Isak at 'more than £150m' with the eye-watering transfer fee standing in the Gunners way.

Speaking on Sky Sports, The Athletic's David Ornstein spoke of how Arteta missed an opportunity: "Arsenal missed their chance with Isak a couple of years ago when they considered signing him in January I think it was from Real Sociedad. For whatever reason they didn't go through with the deal and he ended up in Newcastle.

"There was scrutiny about that deal at the time because it was around 60 million euros so not the highest as he was a bit off-form and suffered some injuries, but the way he has developed and flourished is just spectacular. It probably makes Arsenal rue at the opportunity.

"There is no doubt that he is the player that Mikel Arteta has at the top of his list if he was to sign a striker, he is seen as perfect for Arsenal's system with everything he offers."

With The Magpies looking to sign Isak down to a new contact, the likelihood of the Swede playing in red looking less and less likely. Instead, Ornstein suggests the club should be searching for the next Isak, focusing their efforts on the likes of 21-year-old Benjamin Sesko from RB Leipzig.