Troy Deeney: Arsenal will NOT sign Alexander Isak – Mikel Arteta is too frightened of having a genuine maverick No9

Sponsored by. TEN days ago, I watched Arsenal get knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Newcastle United at St James’ Park. During that semi-final second leg, I spotted Eddie Howe and his assistant Jason Tindall screaming at their centre-forward Alexander Isak to sprint back and help his team defend. It must have happened five times and, on each occasion, Isak smiled at them and carried on jogging. Howe and Tindall weren’t happy but they know that Isak is a proper goal-scorer and a match-winner.

It seems to me that the man in the opposing dug-out that night, Mikel Arteta, is frightened of signing a genuine No 9 like Isak. True centre-forwards always have that element of selfishness, of single-mindedness. They are often mavericks, they can often be disruptive, they usually have minds of their own and they live for scoring goals. Arsene Wenger almost always had a world-class finisher, from Ian Wright to Nicolas Anelka to Thierry Henry to Robin Van Persie, right up to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in his final season.

But I believe Arteta is so wrapped up in his team ethos that he shies away from signing such players. Fans paint murals of Arsenal’s set-piece coach when I’m sure they’d much rather be splashing the Dulux in homage to a world-class number nine. BEST FREE BET SIGN UP OFFERS FOR UK BOOKMAKERS. The policy of not signing a genuine centre forward backfired spectacularly after Kai Havertz suffered a season-ending injury on the club’s mid-season break to Dubai.

I know there was a £60million bid for Ollie Watkins in January but for me that just felt like a PR stunt. Watkins was never going to leave Aston Villa in mid-season. But it meant Arsenal could tell their fans ‘at least we tried’. It didn’t feel as if the club tried too hard. When Ivan Toney was available last summer, Arsenal didn’t do the deal because of finances - but it was a false economy.

Victor Osimhen was on the market too but Arteta didn’t go for him. Back-up striker Eddie Nketiah was sold to Crystal Palace and no replacement was bought. Arsenal have been transformed and greatly improved during five years under Arteta - but while they have spent big in defence and midfield, they have not invested anywhere near as much in their front line. The summer was the time to strike. In the January window you are always going to be struggling - especially when other clubs know you are desperate.

Gabriel Jesus, Arteta’s other option at centre-forward, had already been ruled out for the season so the idea of a serious injury to Havertz was always the nightmare scenario. Neither Jesus nor Havertz is an out-and-out centre-forward but the German has done a really decent job there. People are going to realise how effective he is in both boxes - and as an attacking focal point - now that he is on the sidelines.

Without Havertz, Arteta is now into ‘false nine’ territory - with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli also out, his only attacking options are Leandro Trossard, Raheem Sterling and the 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri. Those might be enough to beat Leicester handsomely today but they are not going to allow the perfect 14-match run-in Arsenal will need to have any chance of hunting down Liverpool - which would have to include a win at Anfield.

As an old-school nine, I’m sceptical about the idea of false nines. The only two clubs who have been consistently successful playing such a system were Barcelona, with Lionel Messi, and Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City, between Sergio Aguero and Erling Haaland. Those were two of the greatest teams in history. To play that way, you have to pass teams to death, grind them down. Only the very best are good enough to do that.

ARSENAL were humbled by Newcastle at St James' Park as the Magpies beat them 2-0 to secure a spot in the League Cup final. The North Londoners knew they needed to take an early advantage if they were to overturn the 2-0 defeat at the Emirates. But Jacob Murphy was on hand to put the Magpies a goal ahead after Alexander Isak's shot rebounded off of the post and out to him. Shortly after the break, Anthony Gordon doubled the lead to all but confirm a second League Cup final in three years for Eddie Howe.

Here's how SunSport's Gary Stonehouse rated the Gunners. David Raya - 5. Stitched Declan Rice right up for the second goal. And that absolutely killed this as a contest for his side. Jurrien Timber - 6. Tried to get forward and support the attack early but soon found himself dropping deeper to avoid being caught on the counter. Tough night for the Dutchman up against Gordon in front of the red-hot home crowd.

William Saliba - 4. Let frustration get the better of him when he got himself booked for grabbing Anthony Gordon’s shirt. And the winger almost embarrassed him again at the start of the second period when he caught the defender sleeping, nicked the ball from him, but could only shoot wide. The usually assured star will be having nightmares of Gordon and Isak. Gabriel Magalhaes - 6. Another who struggled to contain Toon’s two pacey attacking threats but did fair slightly better than his usually formidable partner.