Newcastle United's £150m asking price for striker Alexander Isak is expected to be enough to prevent Arsenal from pursuing a transfer, a report has claimed. Gunners boss Mikel Arteta is a long-time admirer of Isak and was on the receiving end of the Swede's 15th goal in all competitions this season when Newcastle left the Emirates with a 2-0 advantage in the Carabao Cup semi-final first leg in midweek.

Arsenal are now exploring alternative striker targets, having decided to shelve their pursuit of Alexander Isak after Newcastle slapped a hefty price on the Swedish star

Alexander Isak has been a long-term admirer for Arsenal but a transfer is unlikely to materialise anytime soon

Newcastle striker Alexander Isak scored his 15th goal of the season on Tuesday night in a 2-0 victory over Arsenal in the Carabao Cup

Arsenal suffered a disappointing 2-0 home defeat to Newcastle in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final with an FA Cup clash against Manchester United up next

Arsenal’s hopes of signing Alexander Isak have been dealt a blow despite Newcastle seemingly needing to offload players this month. Isak enhanced his already growing reputation this week by scoring at the Emirates on Tuesday, as the Magpies secured a 2-0 first leg lead in their Carabao Cup semi-final.

Alexander Isak with a simple message to those Arsenal fans, declaring ‘It is part of the game, we all play on the edge. It was nothing.’ Alexander Isak loving the fact that Newcastle United have now made it seven wins in a row, reflecting on Tuesday night’s win at the Emirates:

Arteta regularly eulogises over Anfield and St James’ Park, the ‘jungles’ and ‘washing machine’-like atmospheres he revels in. He has spoken of wanting to write the first chapters of defining nights at the Emirates, but the fever that had been building the past two years has faded this season and Tuesday saw some fans leave early.

Arsenal cannot afford the British record transfer fee it would take to sign 25-year-old Swedish striker Alexander Isak from Newcastle this summer, while Ukraine full-back Oleksandr Zinchenko, 28, could leave the Gunners this month.

Over the years, Arsenal fans have witnessed some impressive performances by strikers wearing the No14 shirt - but this was one they will want to forget in a hurry. Alexander Isak tormented Arsenal as Newcastle ran out 2-0 winners on Tuesday night to put themselves in a commanding position going into the second leg of this Carabao Cup semi-final next month.

Newcastle reportedly value Alexander Isak at over £150million, a fee which would break the British transfer record Chelsea set 18 months ago when signing Moises Caicedo