Newcastle United are reportedly set to offer Arsenal target Alexander Isak a new long-term deal and are said to not be willing to sell the forward at any price.
The Gunners narrowly beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1-0 on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League after Myles Lewis-Skelly was controversially sent off in the first half.
Mikel Arteta's side ensured that the gap to league-leaders Liverpool remained six points, but though his players showcased great spirit to overcome adversity, question marks still linger about whether his team can overhaul the points gap.
Forwards Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus will both miss months of action due to injury, and the latter is not scheduled to return at all this season, leaving the Gunners short of offensive options.
Arsenal have long been linked with a move for a striker, but The Telegraph report that Newcastle attacker Isak will be offered a long-term deal in the summer and also claim that the Magpies will not negotiate his sale at any price.
© Imago
Who will Arteta look to sign?
Arsenal have at times struggled to break opponents down, with much of their forward play coming from wide areas, positions that are more easily defended.
Isak is not only a threat in the box but also excellent at linking play, and a profile as well-rounded as his is arguably not available on the transfer market.
Striker Benjamin Sesko of RB Leipzig has also been frequently linked to the London club, and his physical stature would certainly allow him to occupy defenders in the box.
Juventus forward Dusan Vlahovic is rumoured to be another target for the Gunners, and the 24-year-old is set to enter the final year of his contract in the summer, so he may be a more viable financial option.
However, signing Sesko or Vlahovic could mean that Arsenal still need to look for offensive reinforcement in central areas as neither striker is as comfortable as Isak when dropping deep to progress play.
© Imago
Can Arteta win silverware without January signings?
The Gunners will have to be close to perfect from now until the end of the season if they are to win the Premier League title given Liverpool are six points ahead with a game in hand.
Arsenal have also been eliminated from the FA Cup and face an uphill battle to rescue their semi-final tie in the EFL Cup against Newcastle considering they trail 2-0 after losing at home in the first leg on January 7.
Arteta's side lack firepower up front and have already conceded 21 goals in the league after 22 games, just eight fewer than they conceded in the entirety of 2023-24.
Having said that, if Arsenal can rediscover the defensive form that they consistently displayed last term, then there is an argument to be made that their aggressive play style suits Champions League knockout football as they have proven capable of keeping clean sheets and scoring important goals from set-pieces.
Lewis Nolan
