David Ornstein has revealed that there is one striker Mikel Arteta is particularly keen to sign as he looks to strengthen his squad at the Emirates. Arsenal remain in the market for a top-class forward, acknowledging that Kai Havertz is not the long-term solution to their striking needs.
For now, Arteta continues to trust the German to lead the line, but there is a growing recognition that without a prolific centre-forward, the team may struggle to reach the next level. Arsenal’s attacking play has been impressive in many aspects, but the lack of a clinical striker has hindered their ability to convert chances into goals consistently.
Over the last two seasons, several high-profile forwards have been linked with a move to the club, with the Gunners making unsuccessful attempts to sign one. In the last transfer window, they made an approach for Ollie Watkins, but their bid failed to convince Aston Villa to sell the England international. With the summer transfer window approaching, Arsenal are expected to try again, this time targeting another top-class option.
However, Watkins does not appear to be Arteta’s first-choice signing for the position. According to Ornstein, the player at the top of the Arsenal manager’s list is Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak. The Swedish forward has been in outstanding form for Newcastle, attracting interest from several top clubs, and Arteta views him as the ideal fit for Arsenal’s system.
Speaking to Give Me Sport, Ornstein said:
“There’s no doubt that he [Isak] is the player that Mikel Arteta has at the top of his list, if he was to sign a striker.
“He’s seen as perfect for Arsenal’s system and everything he offers, but Newcastle fans will hate hearing that, because they’ve got him under contract for a few years.
“Isak is the best striker in world football right now, it would seem. That’s why Mikel Arteta has him as his top target.
“Whether he’ll be able to get him, I’ve got no idea. And Newcastle certainly don’t want to see him go. They want to see him sign a new contract.”
A proven goalscorer is crucial if Arsenal are to challenge for major honours, and Isak could be the perfect solution. However, prising him away from Newcastle will be a difficult task, given his importance to their squad and the club’s determination to keep him.
ADMIN COMMENT
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Break the bank!
Won’t happen
Don’t be deluded
Okay, Dan.
Look how much they spent in the last 3 windows
You think suddenly they spend over 100 for Isak
Okay, Dan.
Who remembers when he was available a few January’s ago and the club did nothing? But now, lets spend 120mil+ on him… Questionable scouting when he was already a hyped up player at Sociedad.
I do
In the summer of 2022 we were heavily linked with him. Then he played for Real Sociedad. We didn’t go for him.
Some people said his languid profile would not stand the physical rigours of the PL. Newcastle took the gamble and forked out 63million to bring him to England. Now we know better.
I won’t go for breaking the bank to get Izak from Newcastle. It would be an unnecessarily long drawn-out saga; not worth it.
Sesko is 21, would come much cheaper and has the prospect of growing into our own version of Izak. So, for me, Sesko is it.
Isak is ideal. The buys this summer have been squad strengthening not team strengthening. Merino for Partey is a joke. Sign up Partey again. Califiori? Great goals but not technically better than Miles Lewis-Skelly. Could have bought Semenyo, attacking central midfielder as rice and odegaard have no goals in them and have no interplay with attackers apart from Saka who can play with anybody. Also need to rest the centre halves to keep them fresh.
Just hate Raya playing like a defender, leaving his goal wide open. When will he learn? And please stop time wasting you represent Arsenal not Brentford. As I said earlier we need creative goal scoring midfielders. How rice was named MoM v city was joke. The real fans know who won us the game.
Arteta’s scout team need to find some young talent and gamble on him.
Unless Arteta stop buying average players on exorbitant prices like Havertz, Zinzenko, Jesus etc.
and abandons his side ways passing game.
Arsenal will not progress further.
This year was chance for after Man City slip. But Liverpool management was better than us.
Isak is a very good player but made to look great by incompetent tactics/defending by Arsenal in the Newcastle games. How good is he in tight games when the opposition park the bus? He is certainly an upgrade, in finishing, on Havertz who looked like a baby giraffe trying to find his feet. However if we go for him we end up wildly overpaying like we did for others.
We can’t afford him. End of.
This is another one of those players Arsenal or the manager would like to sign but it never happens
Is this the same manager that has failed to address the need for the last three seasons. Just asking.🙄🤦♂️🤷♂️😣👎