The in-form Swedish striker Alexander Isak continues to shine on the Premier League stage, and Thierry Henry has shared his thoughts on the comparison between himself and Isak, who plays for Newcastle United Football Club.
The season has been one that Isak will never forget. On Sunday, he became the seventh-fastest player to reach 50 goals in the Premier League. He did this by scoring a quick-fire brace against Nottingham Forest, which was the first of his career goals.
The remarkable accomplishment was accomplished by the 25-year-old player in just 76 league games, which is faster than the majority of players in the league, including Wayne Rooney, Sergio Aguero, Robin van Persie, and Harry Kane, to name just a few.
Even more impressively, he accomplished this feat before Thierry Henry, a player who is widely considered to be the best in the history of the Premier League.
Isak has been compared to the Frenchman by a number of fans and pundits, including Theo Walcott, who was a former teammate of Isak’s at Arsenal. This comparison is based on Isak’s exceptional performance at the club level, in addition to his playing style that is distinctive.
“As a player he is something pretty unique in the Premier League right now, and for me he is the closest thing we have seen to another Thierry Henry,” he stated in an interview with BBC Sport. “I would say he is this generation’s Henry, but with extra attributes in the air.”
In light of the aforementioned, SPORTbible brought up those comparisons when we had the opportunity to speak with Thierry as part of the ‘No Lay’s, No Game’ campaign that featured Alexia Putellas, a forward for Barcelona.
Isak’s strengths as a number nine were analysed by Henry after he was asked about his thoughts on Isak as a player. Henry then went on to discuss what Isak brings to Eddie Howe’s coaching staff at Newcastle.
“It is important to note that I do not enjoy making comparisons. Comparing different eras and players is a popular sport. In response to the comparison that was brought up in the conversation, Henry stated, “He is being himself, and he is doing absolutely fantastic.”
It is because he has the typical movement of a number nine that I find him to be a player that I admire. A lot of ‘nines’ in today’s game don’t perform those movements, so all of a sudden you find yourself thinking, ‘Oh my god, did he just spin on that defender?’
These days, nines are required to either hold it and feed the wingers or play off of them. This is the case more often than not. These days, a number nine is responsible for a different kind of work. It was common for the nine to play one-on-one at the back during my time. At this point, they are required to dribble outside of two or three center-backs. From my perspective, it is significantly more challenging for a nine to perform.
Henry concluded by saying: ‘Yes, you can tell me they have a lot of crosses with wingers but more often or not, they come inside, unlike [Ryan] Giggs and [Keith] Gillespie who would go down the line and cross’.
Henry, who played for Arsenal for 376 games and scored 228 goals, would frequently take up wide positions during a game. Because of his versatility, he was able to thrive in both a central striker role and on the wing.
With Henry commenting on Isak’s ability to make things happen from every angle, it is clear that Isak is capable of doing exactly that.
In what ways do I find him appealing? The typical movement of a nine is exhibited by him. The individual, who is 47 years old, stated that when he sees someone who is too close to him, he will go, spin, and go in behind.
“He is able to finish, he is able to dribble, and he does not experience any discomfort when he enters the frame from the right or left. The fact that he is still aware of his capabilities must be a result of his time spent playing for Real Sociedad, during which he was occasionally used to play on the wings. You are required to acknowledge that he is a talented player.
“You can always improve on everything,” Henry continued, in response to Isak’s question about what he could do differently going forward. “Do what you do even better,” is what I tell you. As a result of your participation in the game. The fact that you are currently at a club where people are looking to him to save them is a consequence of your presence there.
“That also brings stuff out of you,” he pointed out further. If your teammates do not score, then it is necessary for me to do so. You are in a situation where this is the case. Getting to the point where you are considered “the guy” on the team is like getting wings.
There are times when it can be a little bit too heavy, but he appears to be the kind of guy who is willing to accept and embrace that. In his eyes, the only limit is the sky. It is impossible to predict how far he will go. It is up to him to demonstrate that to us.
