Alexander Isak of Newcastle Unitedcelebrates with team-mates
Alexander Isak of Newcastle Unitedcelebrates with team-mates
Here we are, the last time Newcastle will travel beyond our natural boundaries this season. Off to the smoke and a visit to the Gunners and Gooners of Arsenal for a top level shoot-out. Second vs third. Champions League semi-finalists vs Carabao Cup winners.
United stand loftily fifth in the PL away table with a record of played 18, won eight, drawn four, and lost six. Twenty-eight points. Not too shabby at all. More wins than losses. Meanwhile Arsenal don't get beaten but they draw far too often. Tricky to predict for all but the staunchly biased.
A visit to the Emirates brings into sharp focus the desperate need for those of ambition to possess a goalscoring centre-forward. This is the land of the haves and have nots. Arsenal don't have one and have missed out on all the top prizes this season. Chelsea don't have one with Nicolas Jackson sent off at SJP and are scratching round to fill that position in their relentless thirst for Champions League acceptance despite the obscene millions they have spent. Manchester United don't have one who can hit a barn door at three paces.
Brighton are trumpeting the fact that at the weekend the highly lauded Danny Welbeck scored his 10th Premier League goal of the season yet incredibly it is the first time he has ever reached the modest target of double figures despite a high-profile career with Manchester United, Arsenal and England such has been his persistent injury setbacks.
Manchester City had two of the very best, Sergio Aguero and Erling Haaland, at their trophy winning height and while Liverpool are without a goal gorging No 9 they have won the championship because of the efforts of a quite extraordinary and unique winger Mo Salah. A freak of nature who literally has better goal figures than any centre-forward.
Meanwhile Newcastle have Alexander Isak, the No 9 every other club desires, and who scored the winning goal at Wembley to bring us the League Cup. That is why we must truly appreciate him and refuse to sell him at all costs. Isak has scored 52 goals in all competitions over the last two seasons and 44 in the PL. That's sheer gold dust.
What United have to somehow do is make sure an overworked body remains 100 per cent healthy, that he feels contented and happy with his lot on Tyneside, and is not asked to operate in isolation. We don't want him distracted by the lure of greener grass as can easily happen when it almost certainly doesn't exist.
Other clubs will have had a word is his ear promising riches both financial and in terms of trophies but the secret is to make Isak feel positive that he can achieve all his dreams here and certainly Champions League qualification is a huge step in that direction.
Arsenal are the club which above all others would love Isak to solve their major problem. Let that inspire him on Sunday not distract him. Let him show them once again what they are missing. He scored the only goal here when United beat the Gunners in the PL and did it again down there in the Carabao Cup. So a hat-trick of sorts is on for him come Sunday. There is no question that for whatever reason of the many possible Alex's form has tapered of late - he has netted only once from open play since April 2 but then again that means another is long overdue.
Wouldn't it be nice if the Emirates turns out to be his stage on Sunday. After all it is just 11 miles across town from Wembley where he won us our first domestic pot since the mid-fifties.
The Mags are in control of their destiny as a consequence of a perfect result against Chelsea despite an imperfect performance. However right now all that matters is points gathering. Points make prizes not looking pretty. Who of the big names will step up to the altar on Sunday? Isak? Anthony Gordon or Bukayo Saka? Bruno Guimaraes or Martin Odegaard? Sandro Tonali or Thomas Partey? Myles Lewis-Skelly or Tino Livramento? Let it be as clear as black and white.
The Champions League doesn't depend solely on the result at Arsenal of course. There is Everton at home to come. Second to fifth is the leeway. There's history all right with the Gooners. It's the SuperMac derby. The fixture that gave us the greatest PL comeback of all time: February of 2011 when United were four down by half-time at St James Park but roared back to draw 4-4. We have played out three FA Cup finals at Wembley - United won two, Arsenal one.
More relevant: three meetings have already taken place this season and United won all three. 1-0 up here in the PL, 2-0 at the Emirates and 2-0 at SJP in the Carabao Cup semi-final. No goals conceded you may note, five scored. May the trend continue.