Alexander Isak’s biggest fan was Gary Neville after the Newcastle United striker caused havoc in the Arsenal defence in the build-up to Jacob Murphy’s opener.
Heading back to St. James’ Park for a Carabao Cup semi-final second leg, Eddie Howe’s men held a 2-0 advantage gained from last month’s meeting at the Emirates Stadium. They might have been forgiven for looking to hold onto that lead, but instead it was the Magpies who took the initiative.
Isak saw a fourth-minute strike chalked off for offside, but not long after was jubilant as Murphy tapped in an opener and the third goal of the two-legged contest.
“It’s all about Isak. He’s messing the Arsenal centre backs about! Look at him up against [William] Saliba, he thinks he’s got in front, just pokes it around the corner, gets a little bit of good fortune – I don’t think that pass was for him,” Neville commented on Sky Sports.
The No.14 had muscled his way past Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes en route to goal. Once reaching the edge of the penalty area he pulled the trigger, being kept out only by the inside of the post, but Murphy was on hand to fire home the rebound.
The ex-Manchester United captain continued: “What a strike it was from Alexander Isak and there is a little bit of good fortunate as it falls into the path of Murphy. The Newcastle centre forward has got Gabriel and Saliba on toast.
“This is him messing Saliba around. Just can’t handle him. Not many can!”
Later on as Saliba was shown a yellow card, Neville added: “I’ve not seen him as ruffled for a long time.”
Not only will the Gunners be left fuming at conceding first on a night they had to be quick out of the blocks, it was a devastating impact from a man many pundits had told Arsenal chiefs to sign in recent transfer windows.
Newcastle have zero intention to sell their star striker, though as Howe admitted last month: “I think the business logic is taking over from the football logic. I think that will be the way not just for us, but for lots of clubs because there may be football decisions you’d like to make (but can’t).
“Nothing, I think, will be bigger than the previous summer, when we had to lose two highly-promising young players. We were forced to, we had no choice. That was very much the business taking over the football, and I think we’re still in that position to a degree.”
Reports in the North East claim the Toon will hold contract renewal talks with Isak towards the season’s end whilst in North London, the decision not to spend big on a centre forward this season points towards a major effort ahead of next season.
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