Alexander Isak was incredible as Newcastle United booked their tickets to the Carabao Cup final on Wednesday night and Arsenal fans were left just as impressed.
Newcastle United have emphatically defeated Arsenal in the Carabao Cup semi-finals, winning 2-0 (4-0 on aggregate) to advance to the Wembley final.
Roared on by a raucous home crowd at St. James’ Park, the fans were forced to wait to celebrate after Alexander Isak’s three-minute opener was disallowed but not for long.
The striker was again crucial as he turned the Arsenal back-line and struck the post but this time Jacob Murphy was on hand to tuck away.
Eddie Howe’s side fought for every ball and made Arsenal, who have just beaten Manchester City 5-1, look a shadow of their normal selves and deservedly doubled their lead through Anthony Gordon just after the break.
Gordon, Kieran Trippier and Sandro Tonali all put in stand-out displays but it was Isak who was simply unplayable, running the usually resolute Arsenal back-line ragged for 90 minutes.
His performance was so impressive that Arsenal fans admitted they have never seen a player ‘bully’ William Saliba as much before.
Arsenal fans blown away by Alexander Isak performance
Saliba is regarded as one of the best centre-backs in the world, not just the Premier League, but he was given nightmares by Isak all game long.
Arsenal fans on social media even admitted as such, with one user on X writing: “Alexander Isak is easily the best striker in the league. Never seen Saliba get bullied like this before.”
Another user posted: “I genuinely think William Saliba has nightmares about Isak. Never seen him so concerned vs a single other striker so regularly.”
While another Gunners fan echoed those thoughts: “Isak by the way. Never seen a player brush aside Saliba like he has.”
“I’ve never seen someone bully Saliba like Isak does,” another Arsenal supporter lamented. “He simply can’t control him at all,” while another replied: “Proper rent free job that isn’t it?”
Arsenal will want Alexander Isak even more now
As was made abundantly clear again during Wednesday’s game, Arsenal are severely lacking a striker. A lack of cutting edge will likely cost them the Premier League title this season as well as the Carabao Cup.
Supporters know this and have been begging the club to sign a striker for months, if not years. Isak, to Newcastle fans’ continued frustration, is the man they want.
Yet, Arsenal will either have to cough up a staggering transfer fee of at least £150m or look elsewhere, because Newcastle should not let him go for anything less.
If they secure Champions League football, they won’t need to.
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