"The sky is the limit for him" - Henry responds to Isak comparisons

 Aleksander Isak has been lighting up the Premier League this term. Having scored 21 goals in 30 appearances, the Sweden international is having the best season of his career after entering his third year at Newcastle since leaving Real Sociedad in the summer of 2023.

His recent brace against third-placed Nottingham Forest on Sunday made him the seventh-fastest player to reach 50 Premier League goals, doing so within just 76 appearances in the league. Many have now branded Isak as the new Thierry Henry.

Former Arsenal winger Theo Walcott was among those drawing the link. "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 told BBC Sport. "I would say he is this generation’s Henry, but with extra attributes in the air."

And Henry himself responded to the comparisons as he sat down to talk to 'SPORTBible'. "First and foremost, I don't like comparisons. People like to compare eras and players. He is himself and he is doing extremely well," the Frenchman said on Isak.

The Arsenal legend hailed the 25-year-old for his approach to the No. 9 position as he said: "He is a player that I like because he has the normal movement of a number nine. He sees someone who is too close to him, he'll go, spin and go in behind.

"He can finish, he can dribble, and isn't uncomfortable when he goes in from the right or left. He still knows what he can do, that must be from his days playing at Real Sociedad when he used to play on the wings at times. He is a good player, you have to say that".

Speaking on what Isak can do to improve his game, Henry added: "You can always improve on everything. I say, 'Do what you do even better.' And that comes with you playing. That comes with you being at a club where, right now, they look at him to bail them out.

"When you're becoming 'the guy' in the team, it gives you wings. Sometimes, it can be a bit too heavy but he looks like a guy who accepts it and embraces that. The sky's the limit for him. Who knows how far he is going to go. That's on him to show us."

 

February 27, 2025