Jay Bothroyd has claimed that one of Arsenal’s top striker targets is a better number nine than Erling Haaland.

The Gunners fell short of winning the Premier League title on the final day of the 2023/24 season. Manchester City finished two points above Mikel Arteta‘s side.

The Arsenal manager will want to strengthen his side in the summer transfer window, and a new striker is said to be on the agenda. Bothroyd has raved about one of Arteta’s targets.

Pundit shares four things Arsenal target Alexander Isak is better at than Erling Haaland

Arsenal have been linked with a move to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.

The Swede has been described as Arteta’s top striker target for the 2024/25 season, and many feel he would take the Gunners to another level.

Isak has had a fine season at Newcastle. He scored 25 goals in all competitions, 21 of those came in the Premier League in just 27 starts.

He averaged a goal every 108 minutes in the league in the 2023/24 campaign, which is an outstanding return for any striker.

Jay Bothroyd appears to be a huge fan of Isak.

The pundit boldly claimed that the Arsenal-linked forward would actually outscore Erling Haaland if he played for a club as good as Manchester City.

He further described Isak as the best number nine and listed four things the Swede is better at than Golden Boot winner Haaland.

Bothroyd said on The Optus Sport Football Podcast: “He’s the best number nine, if he was to play for City, he would score more goals than Haaland.

“He’s a better finisher, he’s a better all-round player, he’s better at one-on-ones. He’s faster.”

READ MORE: 22-goal ace will ‘top’ Arteta striker shortlist if Arsenal can’t sign Alexander Isak early

Isak could form a dream partnership if he joins Arsenal

Arsenal are one of the best clubs in Europe right now.

Arteta has built a tremendous side that has challenged for the Premier League title in two consecutive seasons. They even made it into the last eight of the Champions League.

Many feel the final piece in Arsenal’s puzzle is a prolific new striker, and Newcastle star Isak, who has been compared to Thierry Henry, would be a magnificent option.

Isak already has a friend at Arsenal – Martin Odegaard. The two of them were brilliant together at Real Sociedad in the 2019/20 season.

The Norwegian was involved in 16 goals in that campaign, while the Swede directly contributed to 19. They formed a brilliant partnership.

If Isak joins Arsenal this summer, that partnership could be rekindled. Nigel Reo Coker believes ‘Odegaard would feed Isak tremendously‘.