3 reasons why Arsenal should not buy Alexander Isak

Fans expect Arsenal to buy a striker next summer and rumours are swirling (once again) that Newcastle star Alexander Isak will be among our primary frontline targets.

He first popped up on the radar in 2022 following an impressive stint at Real Sociedad and has won many more admirers since his switch to Tyneside, where a fine adaptation to Premier League life has only whetted the appetite for a north London pursuit.

Such talk picked up steam again this week as Alex Crook (Chief Football Correspondent at talkSPORT) reported how contract negotiations between Isak and Newcastle have stalled recently, with the player's financial demands potentially sparking his exit from Tyneside.

It is a name that would excite the masses, but here are three reasons why Arsenal should not make a move for the talented Swede.  

3 reasons why Arsenal should not buy Alexander Isak next summer

1. He does not fit the bill

Profile matters to Mikel Arteta more than anything else and Isak does not fit the centre-forward mould for us.

Of course, he brings good qualities to the table like pace, technical ability and strong ball-carrying skills, while his experience at Premier League level would allow for a quick adaptation – something which cannot be said for other forward targets.

However, the physical and aerial sides of things are equally important and Isak simply does not tick those boxes. His slight frame might render him unsuited to tussles with big, burly defenders and he could therefore struggle to shrug off opponents when dropping deep.

He also ranks in the 11th percentile for ‘aerials won’ among strikers in the top five European leagues over the past year and offers little in the way of defensive contribution; his lack of off-the-ball effort likely to be a major red flag for the boss.

Certainly a good player, yet Isak is not the best candidate.   

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