Joe Willock recently likened Alexander Isak to Thierry Henry, and it appears that he is not the only person at Newcastle making those comparisons.
Isak is now the main man at Newcastle, and has really laid down a marker with his last two performances. He has netted three goals in two games, and was particularly unstoppable against Nottingham Forest.
His performance at the City Ground prompted Willock to ask ‘Thierry is that you‘, comparing the Sweden international to one of the Premier League’s greatest ever players.
It is high praise from Willock, and it is a sentiment shared by some of the Newcastle staff.
Newcastle staff liken Alexander Isak to Thierry Henry
According to the Athletic, Newcastle’s coaching staff are comparing Isak to a young Henry. That is a testament to how impressed they have been with the 23-year-old.
It is incredibly high praise when you look back at how good Henry was, but the similarities are there for all to see.
Firstly, Isak is lightening quick, just like the Frenchman was. Henry was electric in and out of possession, and Isak is the same. His speed is a real asset to Eddie Howe, as it allows the striker to lead the press even more effectively.
Isak also has a tendency to drift out wide like Henry did, which makes him difficult for defenders to mark. So many times in the past we saw Arsenal’s record scorer find space on the left before eventually bursting inside to score.
The flicks and tricks are there too. Henry’s va va voom delighted Arsenal fans and even neutrals, while we have already seen audacious bits of skill from Isak. He is not scared to run at defenders, and is growing in confidence game by game.
Goals will define Henry comparison
Stylistically, it is obvious why Henry and Isak are being compared. The true test will be goals. Henry’s record speaks for itself. He scored 175 times in the Premier League. He scored 228 times for Arsenal. In every season with the Gunners, he hit double figures.
The hope will be that Isak can do the same, especially considering he cost £63million. Despite enduring an injury ridden debut season, there is still a chance that he could hit double figures this campaign. He currently has six goals, with 12 games to go.
Thierry Henry is a legend of the game, and a Premier League icon. The early signs suggest that Isak could follow a similar path.
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