Arsenal: 3 reasons Alexander Isak is perfect for Gunners

Arsenal currently have a world class centre-forward on their books. He also happens to be the highest paid player at the club and has just come off the back of a season in which those two points can be brought into question.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang did not have a great 2020/21. There is no point going through the factors that offer him mitigation once again – those that undoubtedly had an impact in his output – but as an overall package he did disappoint. The striker will be 32 years old by the time the next Premier League season kicks off.

Yet, with a stronger midfield, he will be scoring again. His career reads goals and his importance reads a lot. There will come a time further down the line, however, perhaps even as early as next summer, where Arsenal will need to look to the future.

They already are. The Athletic report that Euro 2020 will be an opportunity for Arsenal to continue taking a look at Alexander Isak, a player who the club have been monitoring and someone who Edu is a ‘big fan’ of.

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3 reasons Alexander Isak the perfect centre-forward to be Arsenal’s long-term option under Mikel Arteta

Boasting five centre-forwards on the books at present, two of those could be on the move this summer as Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette enter the final years of their contracts and look like bidding farewell to north London. With exciting 19-year-old Folarin Balogun signing a long-term deal there is depth primed for the future, but there will come a stage where Aubameyang departs and needs replacing.

Isak is a special talent who can be that man.

Bursting on to the scene with hometown club AIK, he then joined Borussia Dortmund where he was unable to break into the senior fold regularly. A loan spell at Willem II in the Netherlands shot him back up to prominence and Real Sociedad saw fit to part with just under £6m two summers ago.

Off the back of his best scoring season to date, Europe is on high alert. Arsenal are too, and they should be: he’d be the perfect centre-forward under Mikel Arteta.

*stats courtesy of fbref and Understat

1. Alexander Isak is the Archetypal Modern Striker

The role of a lone centre-forward has changed considerably down the years. Gone are the days of duel strikers as the 4-2-3-1 and 4-3-3 were ushered into the modern world, and now the remit for what a No. 9 does has altered.

Varying their skillsets from being pure 18-yard box predators, the need to be involved in phases of play both as a linking mechanism and as high-line presser have bestowed more responsibility upon strikers.

Isak does this role at Socieded superbly, with his heightened technical ability ensuring those facets are carried out to a consistently high level. He is someone who will work the channels, press from the front, not be afraid to shoot and play with his back to goal to invite his side to build.

Arsenal would love, ideally, someone who encompasses traits of both Aubameyang and Lacazette. He wouldn’t need to be a high-touch forward but the demands of coming short to link play and being a nuisance to opposition backlines have to be included. Isak is all of that but will also carry possession more progressively than he passes it and hold up the ball well when found at range.

Standing at 6’2″, his lanky legs are deceptively fast along the ground; he does boast a quick turn of pace and when galloping at length can reach commendable speeds. Playing on the shoulder he’s a constant threat, keeping defenders on their toes.

As far as a package – still with definite rough edges and a fat transfer fee hanging over his head – he would slot in this Arsenal team like a glove.