Isak’s razor-sharp edge provides painful point of contrast to Arsenal’s meanderings | Barney Ronay
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Newcastle striker isn’t just a player Arsenal have wanted, but a type they have missed – there isn’t a better centre-forward in England right now. And here’s what you could have had. No, maybe don’t look too closely. It is no secret Arsenal made attempts to sign Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad a few years back. There was some vague, whisper-on-the-wind talk of a bid again this summer. Good luck with that one now. How much would it take these days? A hundred and fifty million? A six pack of gold Fabergé eggs encased in Parmesan cheese? Ten thousand head of cattle and half of Hertfordshire?.
![[Kai Havertz shows his dismay after missing a fine chance for Arsenal]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/93507285e0d907876b3a72b15a2e84dc0471df1c/0_0_6000_4000/master/6000.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
Isak isn’t just a player Arsenal have wanted, but a type they have missed, a razor edge in a team that still basically wants to tickle you to death. No doubt after this 2-0 semi-final first leg victory for an excellent Newcastle team, driven by a wonderful performance from Isak, there will be some painful focus on the points of contrast with Arsenal’s own meanderings in attack.
Most notable was the moment on 58 minutes when Kai Havertz went sneaking on to a deflected cross right in front of goal, leapt, hung in the air, wrenched his neck muscles expertly, took the ball on his left shoulder and sent it weeping and sneezing past the far post in a sad dying arc.
It is of course an unfair comparison. Havertz is a different player, spending his time on the pitch wheeling around weaving complex forward patterns out of passes, flicks, decoy runs, pieces of driftwood. The problem for Mikel Arteta right now isn’t Havertz. It isn’t the absence of Isak, but the absence anyone who even remotely resembles him.
