There is a lot of buzz and stories leading up to Tuesday's first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final between Arsenal and Newcastle, but all roads seem to lead to Alexander Isak.
The Newcastle striker will have a lot of eyes on him. The calls for Arsenal to sign a new striker are growing louder and the 25-year-old appears to be the perfect fit.
“If I were Arsenal and I had the money I would buy Isak,” said former Gunners striker and Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson last week. “I would break the bank for him. He is the best of the best and takes Arsenal to another level.”
Isak to Arsenal is a move that has been talked about without any real action being taken. But there are some signs the Gunners could be planning that approach.
The signing of Mikel Merino last summer meant that the Gunners, alongside Martin Odegaard, currently have two of the three starting midfielders from Real Sociedad's squad for the 2019/20 season. The striker in that team? Isaac.
Outgoing La Real sporting director Roberto Olabe – who signed Isak from the La Liga club that same season – is also rumored to be among the names Edu is said to be looking to replace as Arsenal's transfer chief.
But the main reason why Arsenal would move for him is that he is one of the best strikers in Europe at the moment. That and the fact that the Gunners may be missing that 'killer' up front in their pursuit of the title.
As of the last week of October, only Mohamed Salah has scored more goals in all competitions than any player in the continent's top five.
One of those goals was the victory against Arsenal at the beginning of November. Since then he has scored in all but two of his ten Premier League games.
Add three assists and Isak shows why he is considered the best all-round striker in the division.
But the spike in goals and assists came out of the blue. Newcastle's slow start to the season plus a toe injury for the Swede meant he scored just one goal in their first eight league games.
But once Newcastle boss Eddie Howe was able to find balance in critical areas of the pitch, it provided a structure in which Isak could flourish.
“The team creates for him too,” Howe said. “He doesn't do it alone, the team plays in a very good way, not for Alex, but for other players as well. We see goals from different aspects of the team.”
“If you went on the run like we did, you wouldn't do that if it was just one player. Alex plays his role by finishing the moves, but is happy with the way the players create for them.”
Balance and structure were found when Howe moved Sandro Tonali to the defensive role in midfield, giving captain and midfield key Bruno Guimaraes the freedom to move up.
Since that move, driven by the 4–2 defeat to Brentford on 7 December after which Guimaraes called his team a “shambles”, Newcastle have won all six of their games in all competitions.
It has led to claims that the three midfielders of Guimaraes, Tonali and Joelinton are the best midfield trio in the country.
“I don't watch every Premier League game so it's difficult to comment,” Howe said when the suggestion was put to him.
“I like the three players who play there. It's a strong area at the moment, they've built strong relationships with each other.”
The other area of stability that Isak has benefited from is on Newcastle's right side.
Howe tested Harvey Barnes and Joelinton – even Anthony Gordon – as possible right-wing options, but the decision to go for long-serving option Murphy has done wonders for his team and Isak's form.
The winger has the best minutes per assist record in the Newcastle squad this season and four of those dismissals have resulted in goals for Isak, three of which have come in the last month.
In total, Isak and Murphy have scored eight goals between them – it's the best partnership the Swedish striker has forged in his career so far. Guimaraes, meanwhile, is not far behind on the list.
It's one of the many reasons why losing Guimaraes to suspension for Tuesday's semi-final at Arsenal is a major blow. Just as Newcastle have found the structure to support their star striker, they will have to adapt to one of their biggest games of the season.
“I have no doubt it will be a bit of a change for us without Bruno, only he can do what he does,” Howe said.
While Newcastle provide the structure to support Isak, there is no doubt he is the jewel in the crown. “If I had £150m I would pay to have you at any club,” Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher told the striker last week.
Now that his rise to becoming one of the best strikers in the world is assured, the only questions that seem to remain surrounding Isak are: when will a team take his place? How much will they have to pay? And will that club be Arsenal?
Howe's focus, meanwhile, is on presenting the trophy that could convince players like Isak and Guimaraes to stay longer.
“It would undoubtedly help us in every way, whatever angle you want to take,” the Newcastle boss said when asked if a Carabao Cup win would do that.
“But we can't worry about the outcome. We have Arsenal and that is difficult enough.”
Difficult without Guimaraes, a much easier prospect with Isak.
Watch Arsenal vs Newcastle in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final live on Sky Sports from 7pm; starting at 8 p.m
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