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Arsenal transfer briefing: SAMI MOKBEL reveals the latest on Alexander Isak pursuit and the reasons why Gunners did not sign a striker last summer

Arsenal have been monitoring Isak, who shone against them earlier this week

The sight of Newcastle predator Alexander Isak wheeling away in celebration at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night would have focused the mind at Arsenal. If it didn’t then the penny may never drop.

Mikel Arteta has built a marvellous squad, one that can more than hold its own against the finest in Europe, but it’s missing something – a certain magic.

To complete what he has started, Arteta needs a prolific centre forward. It’s more than the cherry on top – such talents are fundamental to successful teams.

Arsenal have had their fair share of the years: Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka and Ian Wright, for example. Blackburn and Newcastle had Alan Shearer. Manchester City have had Sergio Aguero and Erling Haaland. Manchester United have had too many to mention.

So it begs the question: can Arteta really unlock his team’s full potential without a recognised out-and-out goalscorer? The consensus right now suggests the answer to that question is no. The groans at full-time whistle following Tuesday’s loss to Eddie Howe’s indicative of those frustrations.

It’s important to make clear that Arsenal were in the market for a new forward last summer. They extensively explored all viable options

Arsenal were in the market for a centre forward last summer and considered Alexander Isak

For instance, recruitment staff had identified Benjamin Sesko from Red Bull Leipzig. The Slovenia international certainly fit the profile. At 21, his ceiling is high. Recruitment staff believed his fluid movement and physical attributes would fit in well to Arteta’s dynamic and interchangeable forward line.

Talks ensued and Arsenal were ready to move. But during those conversations it was made clear to Sesko that he would not necessarily be joining as a guaranteed starter. Kai Havertz’s excellent end to the season meant he was in possession of the shirt, having scored nine times in the last 18 games to finish with 14 goals in his debut campaign in north London.

Decent numbers, though not mind-blowing. Nonetheless, the Germany international’s transition into a centre forward was deemed successful enough by Arteta for Havertz to start this campaign as the team’s first-choice.

On the face of it, it’s hard to argue against that decision. It’s easy to forget Havertz has already scored 12 goals this season, just two short of last season’s tally with half of the campaign left to play.

Sesko, for his part, prioritised his development and informed Arsenal of his intention to sign a new contract at Leipzig rather than risking a bit-part role at the Emirates, and intriguingly, he remains on the Gunners’ radar heading into the summer window.

There was interest in Ivan Toney but it was eventually decided that they would not pursue the England international for various reasons, before he joined Saudi Pro League side Al Ahli for £40million.

Then there was Isak, who tormented Arsenal in Newcastle’s 2-0 victory in the Carabao Cup semi-final first-leg earlier this week, two months after scoring the winner against them in the league game at St James’ Park. The Sweden international, who has scored 15 times this season including 10 in his last nine matches appears to be Arsenal’s dream ticket.

There was an interest in Isak last summer, but it quickly emerged that persuading Newcastle to part with their striker would cost upwards of £100m.

Isak remains Arsenal’s dream ticket, though they opted to strengthen elsewhere in the summer

Having spent close to £200m on Havertz, Declan Rice and Jurrien Timber in the summer of 2023, Arsenal, without ever being any real danger of falling foul of profit and sustainability regulations, had to be more mindful of their expenditure last summer.

The Gunners still spent over £100m on Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori and turning David Raya’s loan from Brentford into a permanent deal, but that outlay was offset by the sales of Emile Smith Rowe, Eddie Nketiah and Aaron Ramsdale, which came to a total of around £70m.

With that in mind, you can perhaps forgive Arteta and Arsenal for deciding against blowing their entire summer budget on a new striker when other areas of the field also required strengthening.

The defensive injuries they have suffered this season offers some justification that they were right to take the approach they did.

Perhaps they could have scoured the market for more economical opportunities. But veering away from the club’s preferred list of targets makes little sense for a team like Arsenal, who can only settle for the best players around.

Indeed, the fact Arsenal scored 91 Premier League goals last season was a crucial factor in the club’s decision not to accelerate their initial interest in adding a goalscorer ahead of the current season. Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, Martin Odegaard and Havertz all chipped in with double figures last term, though only Havertz, on seven, appears close to hitting that mark this term.

But even this season, Arsenal are second highest scorers in the top flight with 39 goals, second to leaders Liverpool who have netted 47 times so far.

So, with that in mind, Arsenal may continue to feel justified in their decision to keep their powder dry – at least in terms of a striker – last summer. There’s clear logic in that decision. But sometimes football defies logic. Watching Isak mesmerise in such devastating fashion on Tuesday night amplifies that very point.

Any signing this month would likely be a short-term replacement for the injured Bukayo Saka

As things stand, Arsenal are likely to revive their interest in Isak at the end of the season. His contract at Newcastle does not expire until 2028, so the Magpies will be in a position of strength if they are to consider offers in the summer, especially if they were to qualify for the Champions League and win the Carabao Cup. Think a nine-figure sum, and start adding.

Of course, Arsenal are already members of the Premier League’s exclusive £100m club having signed Rice from West Ham 18 months ago. Sources insist that following a relatively economical summer window, Arsenal are not opposed to reaching those financial levels again, though it is likely they would need to be creative in the market to land their second £100m player.

But with every passing week it is becoming clear that a player like Isak would transform Arsenal, though the expected cost of landing the striker may be a step too far for the Gunners, and it is most likely they will wait until the summer to approach that situation when player trading becomes far more amenable.

If they are to enter the market this month, and there are no guarantees they will, it would likely be to find a stop-gap for the injured Saka.