During Sweden’s recent Nations League match, Arsenal’s transfer target Viktor Gyökeres made a significant impression on Newcastle’s Alexander Isak. The duo combined brilliantly to secure a 3-1 victory over Azerbaijan on Thursday.
Arsenal had shown interest in both Gyökeres and Isak over the summer, but Gyökeres caught the eye of the Gunners’ boss, Mikel Arteta. Despite this, Arsenal was hesitant to meet Sporting CP’s hefty €100 million release clause for the striker, a decision that reportedly left Gyökeres frustrated.
Fabrizio Romano has since confirmed that Arsenal also turned down a €130 million bid for another striker, further complicating the club’s transfer dealings.
Isak was full of praise for Gyökeres after their game and noted his teammate’s standout performance. “He made two fantastic assists and was still eager for more,” Isak said. “We communicated a lot before the match and connected on the field.”
In a gesture of camaraderie, Isak even let Gyökeres take a penalty kick to complete his hat-trick despite being on the verge of scoring one himself. “We talked about it, and since he had already helped me score twice, I felt it was only right to give him a chance to get on the scoreboard,” Isak explained. “Even if I had taken the penalty, he would have been thrilled with my hat trick!”
