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<p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><p style="display: none;">Article continues below</p><script type="application/json" data-placement="fcplayer-semantic">{"type":"fcplayer-semantic","data":{"embedCode":"//cdn.fcp.codes/embed-code-template/embed-code-template.js#SEMANTIC_5704afb8-c10b-4ba5-9cb4-d7fb6098ef90"}}</script><ul><li>Gunners lacking a prolific No.9</li><li>Heavily linked with Newcastle frontman</li><li>Told to consider Watkins &amp; Gyokeres</li></ul><table><tbody><tr><td><a href="https://www.whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2ivxLJJhzdzbJdwo0n"><strong>Follow GOAL on WhatsApp!</strong></a> 🟢📱</td></tr></tbody></table>

Is Alexander Isak’s work-rate enough for Arsenal? Ex-Gunners midfielder urges club to ignore fellow Swede as he names two ‘killers’ club should ‘break the bank’ for instead of £150m-rated Newcastle star

<p>The general consensus for some time has been that the <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/alexander-isak-arsenal-gunners-warned-wont-sign-new-striker-january-premier-league-winning-ex-defender-explains-what-holding-back/blt366078fe73ae914f" target="_blank">Gunners need to find another proven No.9</a>. A supposed lack of firepower in Mikel Arteta’s squad is considered to be responsible for three successive Premier League title bids falling flat.</p>

WHAT HAPPENED?

<p>There has been talk of a raid being launched on domestic rivals Newcastle for Isak, who could <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/arsenal-blocked-signing-alexander-isak-gunners-unable-afford-newcastle-british-transfer-record-asking-price/blt3e08f0622b62e1ce" target="_blank">come with a £150 million ($194m) price tag</a>. Anders Limpar is not convinced that his fellow Swede is the right option to be drafted in at Emirates Stadium.</p>

THE BIGGER PICTURE

<p>Speaking in association with a <a href="https://oddspedia.com/bookmakers " target="_blank">bookmaker online</a>, ex-Gunners midfielder Limpar told <strong>GOAL</strong> when asked if Isak is <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/arsenal-linked-viktor-gyokeres-mesut-ozil-approval-copying-ex-gunners-real-madrid-star-bounce-trick-goal-sporting-champions-league-man-city/blt8d672ad3b24e8340" target="_blank">the right fit for Arsenal</a>: “I think we are complete as a team, from the goalkeeper to the defending, midfielders, creative players, but we don’t have a striker. We don’t have a killer at the moment.</p><p>“To buy Isak, that’s going to cost us, for sure. He’s an unbelievable player, an unbelievable good goalscorer, and he’s skilled as a footballer. But I would rather say that we need a player like Ollie Watkins or the other Swede, Viktor Gyokeres, because we will probably get more out of them when it comes to work rate.</p><p>“I love to see Alex play football, but at the moment we don’t need a player like him. We need more like a killer, like Gyokeres, [or] an unbelievable all-rounder like Ollie Watkins. Alex is among the best at the moment but in the long run, over a period of two or three years, I would rather pick the other two players.”</p><picture><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/bltbbc362b12546dabf/GOAL%202.0%20-%20Quote%20V2%20(Left)%20-%20X%20(11).png?format=webp" type="image/webp"><source srcset="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/bltbbc362b12546dabf/GOAL%202.0%20-%20Quote%20V2%20(Left)%20-%20X%20(11).png?format=jpg" type="image/jpeg"><img src="https://assets.goal.com/images/v3/bltbbc362b12546dabf/GOAL%202.0%20-%20Quote%20V2%20(Left)%20-%20X%20(11).png?format=jpg" alt="Anders Limpar Arsenal Alex Isak Viktor Gyokeres Ollie Watkins" data-source="Getty Images" data-copyright="Getty/GOAL" data-portal-copyright="Getty/GOAL" perform:prop="uuid:bltbbc362b12546dabf;width:1080;height:1350"></picture>

WHAT ANDERS LIMPAR SAID

<p>Any deals for Aston Villa frontman Watkins or Sporting sensation Gyokeres would not come cheap either, with Limpar adding when quizzed on whether <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/arsenal-spent-600m-transfer-signings-ozil-aubameyang/bltfef61b696a7cdfb3" target="_blank">Arsenal are prepared to invest another nine-figure sum</a> on a fearsome forward: “It is hard to tell. From the outside looking in, the whole team is there. The Premier League is up for grabs, the Champions League, so why shouldn’t we splash out a he amount of money on an unbelievable striker, because the rest is there. </p><p>“We have been unfortunate, unlucky, with [Gabriel] Jesus and now [Kai] Havertz. They are all killers in the penalty box. At the moment, we should break the bank for those two I mentioned.”</p>

DID YOU KNOW?

<p>Arsenal have <a href="https://www.goal.com/en-gb/lists/mikel-arteta-listen-roy-keane-title-warning-agitated-arsenal-search-for-perfection-gunners-go-backwards-looming-contract-chaos-derail-project-entirely/bltb2c6aaf342800622" target="_blank">slipped 15 points off the title-chasing pace being set by Liverpool</a> this season, but remain in the hunt for a top-four finish and possible Champions League glory. Injuries have hindered Arteta’s cause, with Bukayo Saka another attacking option that has missed a lot of football, but the option is there to splash the cash and find much-needed reinforcements during the summer of 2025.</p>

WHAT NEXT FOR ARSENAL?

Is Alexander Isak’s work-rate enough for Arsenal? Ex-Gunners midfielder urges club to ignore fellow Swede as he names two ‘killers’ club should ‘break the bank’ for instead of £150m-rated Newcastle star  | Goal.com

Arsenal have been advised to ignore any transfer deal for Alexander Isak and instead “break the bank” on one of two big-money striking alternatives.