January 7th 2025.
In an intense and thrilling Carabao Cup semi-final first leg match, Newcastle emerged victorious over Arsenal with a 2-0 win. The standout player of the night was none other than Alexander Isak, who was praised by his teammate Anthony Gordon as "the best in Europe" for his outstanding performance.
Isak, who has been on a hot streak of scoring goals, continued his impressive run by finding the back of the net and giving Eddie Howe's side the lead in the first half. The second goal for the Magpies came from Gordon himself, securing a significant result for Newcastle and giving them a solid advantage in the two-legged tie.
Despite having multiple chances in front of their home crowd, Arsenal failed to capitalize and it was Isak who showed them what they were missing with his tenth goal in his last nine games in all competitions. The 25-year-old has been heavily linked with a move to the Emirates in the upcoming January transfer window, and his teammate Gordon couldn't help but rave about his abilities after the game.
"He was very good. I would say he's the best in Europe right now, with the form he's in," Gordon told BBC Radio 5 Live. "His best quality is his humility and unselfishness on the ball. He's not afraid to pass and his raw ability is unmatched."
When asked about the overall result, Gordon praised his team's performance and highlighted their unity as the key to their success. "Every single player was at their best today. It's always tough to come to this place and they defend really well. We knew it was going to be a tough match, but we executed our game plan perfectly."
Meanwhile, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta couldn't help but lament his team's missed opportunities and acknowledged Isak's quality as the deciding factor in the match. "He was involved in both goals, and unfortunately for us, he showed his quality in the box. That's what happens when you have a player of his caliber who can make a difference. He was very clinical."
However, Arteta remained optimistic and refused to give up on his team's chances in the second leg. "It's only halftime," he stated. "I have full belief in my team and our ability to turn this around. We showed great resilience and played against a strong team. I'm confident we can go out there in the second leg and get the result we need."
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