Long-time transfer target was a constant thorn in the Gunners\u2019 side but suffers hamstring injury scare in Carabao Cup semi-final<\/p>\n
Newcastle winger Anthony Gordon\u00a0has hailed teammate Alexander Isak\u00a0as the best striker in Europe currently as the latter put on a sizzling display to terrorize the Gunners on Tuesday night to aid Newcastle to a 2-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of their Carabao Cup\u00a0semi-final tie.<\/p>\n
The goal was Isak\u2019s 15th of the season fittingly displaying his red-hot form, finding the net 14 times in his last 15 games and bringing up his half-century for the Magpies.<\/p>\n
And Gordon, who scored Newcastle\u2019s second goal of the night in north London, believes the Swedish international is the best striker in Europe at the moment.<\/p>\n
\u201cVery good,\u201d Gordon told BBC Radio 5 Live of his team-mate. \u201cHe is the best in Europe, probably right now, with the form he\u2019s in.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe best quality he\u2019s got is that he\u2019s so humble. He is not scared to pass the ball. He\u2019s very unselfish, and his best ability is his raw ability on the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n
Newcastle heads into the second leg against Arsenal next month full of confidence that they can reach this season\u2019s Carabao Cup final at Wembley. Manager Eddie Howe echoed Gordon\u2019s praise of Isak, although he revealed that the striker was forced off early with a hamstring injury.<\/p>\n
\u201cFirst half he was electric, I thought he played really well,\u201d said Howe. \u201cHe scored but I just thought his general game was in a really good place.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was feeling his hamstring a bit at half-time so we had to manage him in the second half and that was a big blow to our performance.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think we rode our luck at times and I think [goalkeeper] Martin [Dubravka] played really well and made some really good saves.<\/p>\n
\u201cI thought the set-plays in the main, we got the small details right. Our mentality to defend our goal with the blocked shots, the heroic pieces of defending that we saw in the last 20 to 30 minutes, it\u2019s great for us for the future.<\/p>\n
\u201cVery pleased with the players, it was a tough game for us in many respects. We\u2019ve had players struggling at half-time. Really pleased with how we played.\u201d<\/p>\n
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