Over the last few days, the only serious mention of Alexander Isak at Arsenal has been in preparation for Wednesday night’s Carabao Cup match. They already knew he was impossible to get in the January window. They’re aware it won’t be far off impossible in the summer, perhaps even harder than pinning him down at St James’ Park to overturn a 2-0 deficit. If it will no doubt irritate people at Newcastle United to start discussion of a semi-final second leg with talk of potentially selling their star, it is naturally framed by Monday, and what happened in the last few days.
Mikel Arteta said the 5-1 win over Manchester City was “the best preparation” for this return leg but it also might have been the best possible result in the circumstances. There was such joy and optimism from the evisceration of the champions that it was simply impossible for anyone - even Arsenal's fan media - to get as agitated about the failure to add a forward. The lack of that kind of signing won’t ever matter as much when you’re scoring so freely against City.
