He is the 22 year old Swedish sensation, Alexander Isak, standing at an imposing 6ft 4in. He started his professional career in 2016 and currently plays for Real Sociedad, where he paints Spain with his skills, speed,fluidity and goals. Arsenal are reportedly close to signing Isak after Real Sociedad banned him from joining Barcelona.
According to El Nacional,Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will be replaced by Isak this month.following an impressive spell in Spain.
Isak signed for Sociedad from Borussia Dortmund in 2019, and has gone to be a main stay in the team, scoring 38 goals in 101 games – including 17 goals last season.
It’s now believed Isak is set to leave Sociedad and that Arsenal is his most likely new home. Real Sociedad has just slipped out of the Champions League zone they had occupied for several weeks this season in the La Liga table and that could further help him look outside.
It is true that Barcelona were reportedly extremely interested in Isak following Xavi’s return as manager, especially with the sad retirement of Sergio Aguero from football altogether. But reports have it that Sociedad has blocked Isak from any negotiations with Barca. It's an often you used smart move– "Never strengthen a direct rival".
So this leaves the door open to Arsenal, as it appears they have won the race for his highly coveted signature.
Currently, Captain Aubameyang has been left out the squad by Mikel Arteta after a disciplinary failing. He has also now been giving permission by Arsenal to join Gabon, his home country as they are deep in preparation for the African Cup of Nations which begins January 9. Thus he may just have played his final game for the club with his last appearance in early December.
Also it has been an open secret that Alexandre Lacazette is set to exit the club on a free transfer, as his contract expires at the end of this season, with there being no effort by Lacazette to renew it.
So Isak is now poised to become Arsenal’s new number nine. It also gels with a certain theme of Arteta's reign, talking about the kind of age he likes his players to be.
Don't forget Odegaard teamed up with Isak to devastating effect in the 2019/20 season, when he was on loan from Madrid. Indeed I think, he will be a brilliant addition to this budding Arsenal side.
cheerfully...
