Although Arsenal made significant additions to their squad this summer, signing players like David Raya, Riccardo Calafiori, and Mikel Merino on permanent deals, much of the club’s spending was balanced by key departures. Among those leaving were homegrown stars Emile Smith Rowe, Aaron Ramsdale, and Eddie Nketiah, three fan favorites.
Despite these tough decisions, Arsenal’s technical director Edu and manager Mikel Arteta made calculated moves to trim the squad and strengthen the team for a more competitive challenge against Manchester City. One of the late highlights of their transfer window was securing Raheem Sterling on deadline day. However, the only criticism the club might face is their failure to bring in a new striker.
Kai Havertz is currently in excellent form, reducing the need for a new starting striker. Still, there are doubts about Gabriel Jesus, primarily due to his injury record, which has prevented him from being the ideal partner for Havertz up front.
Arsenal had shown early interest in signing Benjamin Sesko during the summer, but the young striker opted to stay at his current club. Another big name on Arsenal’s radar was Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak. According to reports, Arsenal made inquiries about Isak but quickly abandoned their pursuit, as the Swedish striker was valued at around £120 million, a price beyond Arsenal’s budget this summer.
However, insiders suggest that Isak remains a long-term target for Arteta. According to *Team News and Ticks*, an Arsenal-focused source, Arteta still has his sights on Isak for the future. On a podcast, it was revealed that Isak is “very, very high” on Arsenal’s list for next summer. The insider hinted that if Newcastle fails to qualify for European competition, Isak might be open to a move.
Some have even drawn comparisons between Isak and Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, particularly noting Isak’s impressive performances for Newcastle towards the end of last season. Interestingly, the iconic number 14 shirt, once worn by Henry, is now vacant at Arsenal following Eddie Nketiah’s transfer to Crystal Palace. The club seems to be holding that number for a special player, and Isak could fit the bill.
While Isak has had some fitness issues in the past, there is no doubt about his quality. If Arsenal were to secure him, pairing him with Havertz could give the team an even more formidable attack, one capable of driving Arsenal toward another Premier League title.