Arsenal legend Martin Keown has stated that if Alexander Isak was in his team, then he would get the belief that they could do ‘special things’, after the Newcastle United striker’s brace against Nottingham Forest on Friday night.
Eddie Howe’s side overcame a resilient Forest team looking to avoid the drop by scoring a composed and well-placed stoppage-time winner from the penalty spot
The 23-year-old had earlier scored an outstanding volley, via his shin, to cancel out Nottingham Forest’s opener that had come against the run of play.
It was a monumental win for the Magpies because it keeps alive their hopes of securing Champions League football for next season.
The call from Howe to drop his regular number nine, Callum Wilson to the bench, and start Isak has proven to be pivotal because that’s three goals in his last two starts and six points for the team.
Nonetheless, former Arsenal defender Martin Keown was full of praise for Newcastle’s club-record capture, as he told Football Focus.
“I think Isak is a player, if he was in my team, then he would start to give me the belief that we can start to do special things,” said Keown. “Callum Wilson was able to sit on the bench. He had a bit of an injury.
“He’s (Isak) a class above everyone else. Really outstanding right now. He had some injury problems. But now he is in full power.”
ISAK FOR THE LONG-TERM?
At 23, and eight years younger than Callum Wilson, this is Isak’s time to make that centre-forward spot his own this season and for the following campaign.
Both Newcastle strikers have had their injury issues, which hasn’t helped their cause, their progression or the club’s attempts to really push on.
With Isak, he has just walked through the doors, so perhaps it’s a case of getting this first season in England’s top-flight under his belt before he can really motor next term.
But, for Wilson, this has been a constant problem, therefore, it will be interesting if another striker is brought in by Eddie Howe during the forthcoming summer transfer window.
In other news, Arsenal player with ‘high technical ability’ won’t play v Crystal Palace
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Justin