ยท December 8 2024, 17:00
Newcastle United's performance against Brentford on Saturday was a strange one, to say the least. In the first half, it looked like the Magpies would continue their winning streak against the Bees but all that hope faded away in the second period.
In real time it looked like one or two sloppy errors were to blame for Newcastle allowing Brentford to score, but on reflection, and thanks to the help of Alan Shearer on Match of the Day, we can see that it was way more than just one or two simple mistakes.
Defensive frailties aside, there was one huge moment in the first-half that we thought would have completely changed the outcome of the game.
Had Alexander Isak put more faith in his left foot, Newcastle would have taken a 2-1 lead after he brilliantly rounded Mark Flekken. However, the Swede struggled to get the ball onto his favoured right peg to roll the ball into an empty net, which allowed Flekken time to recover and steal the ball off Isak's toes.
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Alexander Isak
Martin Keown called Alexander Isak the best striker in form in the league
Before that horrendous miss, Alexander Isak was the subject of high praise from former Arsenal man Martin Keown on the BBC Live Commentary as he named Isak as the best on form striker in the league after his equalising goal.
"Alexander Isak is the best striker on form in the league at the moment. We saw what he did against Liverpool.
"He gets in between two markers, finds the space, it's a lovely ball in and he tucks it away."
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Keown managed to resist linking Isak to Arsenal so we've done it for him
Weirdly, Keown didn't comment on Isak after the Flekken incident.
We're actually just surprised there was no mention of how Isak should be playing for Arsenal in Keown's comment. That always seems to be the case when anyone connected with that club comments on Isak. It's like a reflex action for them.
Seeing Isak's face at full-time yesterday has us worried that he put in a call to Mikel Arteta himself last night. We wouldn't blame him.