Embarrassing from Sky and Paul Merson the morning after Newcastle 2-0 Arsenal
Sky Sports’ fixation on Alexander Isak has once again taken center stage for all the wrong reasons. Despite Newcastle United’s emphatic 4-0 aggregate victory over Arsenal, securing a place at Wembley for the second time in three seasons, the post-match discussion quickly veered away from the club’s success and onto speculation surrounding Isak’s future.
Instead of celebrating Newcastle’s dominant performance, Sky Sports, with former Arsenal player Paul Merson in the studio, chose to focus on where the Swedish striker might end up in the summer.
Newcastle’s third victory over Arsenal this season further solidified the club’s growing reputation, yet the conversation continued to circle back to transfer talk.
Arsenal, a team that has not lifted the Premier League title in over two decades, had no answer to Eddie Howe’s tactical brilliance, but rather than recognizing Newcastle’s achievement, Sky Sports and Merson shifted the narrative.
Given Arsenal’s ongoing struggles in front of goal, particularly with Kai Havertz’s underwhelming performance, it’s no surprise that Merson and others would want a player of Isak’s caliber.
However, continuously linking him away from Newcastle immediately after such a significant triumph feels both disrespectful and predictable.
Merson’s remarks on Sky Sports centered around the idea that Isak’s future hinges on financial incentives, suggesting that if a lucrative offer comes in, it would be difficult to turn down.
He speculated on potential destinations, dismissing Manchester City and Manchester United while questioning whether Tottenham or Aston Villa would be viable options. In his view, the only logical move within the Premier League would be Arsenal, unless a club like Real Madrid came calling, though he noted that Los Blancos already have Kylian Mbappé in their sights.
His comments painted Newcastle as a stepping stone rather than an ambitious club on the rise. The suggestion that Isak must leave to win trophies disregards the progress Newcastle has made under Howe.
With a League Cup final on the horizon and a team built to challenge at the highest level, Isak’s immediate future remains firmly rooted in St. James’ Park. Merson’s implication that moving to Arsenal would guarantee silverware ignores the reality that Newcastle is just as capable of winning trophies, particularly given their trajectory over the past two seasons.
Despite the transfer talk overshadowing the match analysis, Merson did offer some praise for Newcastle’s performance. Acknowledging that the tie was won over two legs rather than through a single moment of fortune, he admitted that Newcastle had dismantled Arsenal.
He highlighted how different the game might have been had Martin Ødegaard’s shot found the opposite side of the post just before Jacob Murphy opened the scoring. However, football is defined by fine margins, and Newcastle capitalized on their opportunities while Arsenal failed to do so.
Merson’s remarks also revealed a surprising level of admiration for Newcastle’s cup run, stating that unless someone supports Liverpool, Tottenham, or Sunderland, they should want Newcastle to lift the trophy.
His sentiment, while positive, contradicts the earlier suggestion that Isak should leave for greater success elsewhere. If Newcastle is seen as a worthy cup contender, then why frame Isak’s future as if staying at the club would limit his ambitions?
Newcastle’s journey to the final has showcased their evolution into a genuine force, and the relentless speculation surrounding Isak’s future does a disservice to the project being built. The club’s ability to compete at the highest level is no longer in question, and players like Isak are central to that vision.
While transfer speculation is an unavoidable part of modern football, the timing and persistence of these discussions suggest a reluctance to acknowledge Newcastle’s rising stature.
As the focus now shifts to the final at Wembley, the club has the opportunity to turn this narrative into fuel for success. With either Liverpool or Tottenham standing in their way, Newcastle will look to finish what they started and secure a long-awaited domestic trophy.
Isak, along with the rest of the squad, will have the chance to write his name into the club’s history, proving that Newcastle is not a stepping stone but a destination for those with true ambition.