As Alexander Isak walked into the Emirates Stadium, one Arsenal fan joked: “Welcome home, Alex.” The Newcastle striker played like an outsider and was just as terrifying. Those stars soon gave way to fear.
That's why Arsenal want Isak. That's why every club should want Isak, regardless of whether they can afford him. It is an object of desire. Right now, you are doing what you want.
Isak has been playing well and scoring goals lately, nine in his last eight games before this tie. He scored again here, but took his game to another level; “good” wouldn't do it justice.
Take the ticket about 20 minutes before your first goal. William Saliba thought he had defended intelligently, stopping Isak outside the penalty area.
That's where attackers are needed, stationary and well guided. What followed felt like Isak had borrowed some starting blocks and swapped his boots for spikes, beating Saliba from a standing start.
Saliba, for the record, was still in the starting position when his fugitive burst into the area and retreated to Lewis Hall, whose shot was blocked.
Alexander Isak was inspired as Newcastle beat Arsenal 2-0 at the Emirates on Tuesday.
Isak put the visitors ahead in the first half when he scored off a pass from Jacob Murphy.
It was the Swedish striker's tenth goal in his last nine games in all competitions.
You could hear the collective murmur of the local masses. They weren't taking down their man, more so strengthening the opponent. An object of desire, indeed. At that time he had displayed the stealth of a jaguar and the speed of a cheetah.
Meanwhile, at the other end, Arsenal were playing a false nine in Kai Havertz, missing headers when unmarked from five yards. There is nothing fake about Isak. He is the complete striker, as evidenced by his recent goals.
Yes, he can score them like Thierry Henry, quick dribbles and finishes that leave you breathless. But seeing him stealing last ones from inside the six-yard box shows that a poacher resides within that athletic, whiplash frame.
His goal, in the 37th minute, was yet another example of his instinct at the right time and in the right place. There was still work to be done when Jacob Murphy's shot passed through the bodies and into his path into the goal, especially as goalkeeper David Raya was throwing his body at his feet. But measuring the angle, Isak lifted through the only possible means, the bottom of the crossbar. It was a better finish than perhaps it seemed, given the proximity to the goal.
No wonder the TV cameras followed him off the pitch at half-time – they got closer than the Arsenal defenders during the first half. Those in red didn't do much better after the break either.
When Newcastle scored again six minutes after the restart, it was thanks to Isak, even though he was not the scorer.
That was Anthony Gordon, turning from close range after Raya could only get one shot off his stride. And whose shot was it? Isaac. Not only that, but he had started the play from Arsenal's midfield. They were already so scared of him that it was by retreating that Arsenal allowed him to shoot.
It would be easy to say that he is the player who can transform Arsenal from contenders to Premier League winners. It's that easy to say almost every day. But the more he plays like this, the less affordable he becomes. He's putting a price on himself not to move!
Isak's performance showed why Arsenal want the Swedish striker in their ranks
It gave Arsenal centre-backs William Saliba and Gabriel the most difficult night in a long time.
When Anthony Gordon scored Newcastle's second, it came after some great play from Isak.
It's not that Isak wants to leave Newcastle. Not when they are probably heading to a Carabao Cup final. Not when they are also likely on track to return to the Champions League, the stage a player of his class demands. If we don't achieve the latter, we may have to review price tags this summer.
But, for now, he can't want much more than what he has in Newcastle. For all his heroics on offense, he should look at his teammates on defense and be grateful that he doesn't have to find a way to outplay them every week. They were equally heroic here. In fact, he has teammates of his quality in all areas, from Sven Botman in defense to Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes in midfield and Gordon in attack.
By now, Isak should feel at home on Tyneside, let alone North London.