Arsenal have to be instructed the place to stay it by Newcastle if they arrive calling over Alexander Isak. The Magpies have already boosted Nottingham Forest sufficient.

Brentford 0-2 Nottingham Forest: Bees have their dwelling comforts eradicated
Truthful play to Nottingham Forest, who’ve offset the ordinarily mortal embarrassment of being the only team to lose to Manchester City since October 26 by single-handedly ruining two in any other case imperious dwelling data.

After they ransacked Anfield in September it felt just like the type of quaint consequence the beginning of the season can throw up. Forest have been good and completely deserved to beat Liverpool however there was no sense the 2 groups could be in direct competitors for locations come Could.

But in bringing to an finish this phenomenal Brentford dwelling report, Forest have established themselves as professional Champions League qualification contenders in December.

Brentford have been conquered in a lot the identical approach as Liverpool earlier than them: with organisation in defence, function in assault and a unbreakable collective perception and staff spirit. There may be magnificence within the obvious simplicity with which Forest are working, even when it clearly requires an unthinkable quantity of labor, effort, money and time to attain.

Ola Aina and Anthony Elanga, the goalscorers, have been salvaged from the Chelsea and Manchester United expertise bin and recycled into £50m gamers. Neco Williams and Chris Wooden wouldn’t entice the identical type of payment however each have been restored to simpler manufacturing facility settings on the Metropolis Floor after various struggles at Liverpool and Newcastle.

The Magpies have actually helped fund this rise. Matz Sels struggled to interrupt into the Newcastle setup within the Championship and monetary malpractice compelled the sale of Elliot Anderson; each have been essential for Forest and have been glorious in opposition to Brentford.

However knitting collectively this merry band of misfits is maybe the best instance of all. Nuno was not needed by many when he changed Steve Cooper, his popularity having taken successful at Spurs and within the latter days of his Wolves reign. Nearly a 12 months to the day since he inherited a staff fourth from the underside, they’re third from the highest. It’s a exceptional story and the ultimate chapter isn’t even shut.

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Ipswich 0-4 Newcastle: Alexander the nice main Magpies’ revival
“The lacking ingredient is that you simply ship in opposition to whoever you’re enjoying,” stated Eddie Howe earlier this month of a Newcastle aspect who earlier than this weekend had won more points against teams in the top half (12) than the underside (11).

It has been a wierd season. The Magpies had put of their finest league performances to attract with or beat Arsenal, Liverpool, Manchester Metropolis and high-flying Nottingham Forest, disappointing in opposition to Everton, Crystal Palace and West Ham main right into a run of presentable fixtures, the likes of which they’ve nonetheless slipped up on not too long ago: Leicester (h), Brentford (h), Ipswich (a).

Three wins from these video games are a naked minimal Newcastle have struggled to persistently obtain. However 11 targets in eight days have lifted them into seventh and a home cup semi-final.

Alexander Isak might need found that “lacking ingredient”. His targets this season had come in opposition to every member of the present prime 4, in addition to groups with European ambitions in Brentford and Spurs. Then a decisive show in opposition to Leicester was adopted up with a primary Premier League profession hat-trick to punish Ipswich.

Kieran McKenna’s aspect have been in full self-destruction mode. Isak transformed a half-cleared cross inside 25 seconds, then completed confidently when Bruno Guimaraes pounced upon a poor Aro Muric ball to Dara O’Shea on the stroke of half-time.

Jacob Murphy thundered a shot in off the underside of the crossbar in between to proceed his tremendous type, earlier than an exquisite run and beautiful dinked help performed Isak in for his third.

The declare from inside Newcastle stays that no participant is unsellable on this regime; Howe stated a few weeks in the past that “the times when groups don’t promote huge gamers are gone”. However Isak is gold mud as a prolific, multi-faceted centre-forward so completely suited to the Premier League.

Arsenal would sign him “in an ideal world”, Chelsea are repeatedly linked and Liverpool supporters appear determined for them to interrupt any dialog when Isak is the topic. However whereas Newcastle could really feel they “can’t assure” sure exits within the switch market, Isak is price making an exception for.

West Ham 1-1 Brighton: Seagulls left mired in mid-table
5 video games with no Premier League win is nothing notably new for Brighton – Roberto De Zerbi’s solely full season on the south coast included two such sequences – however it’s a worrying pattern to emerge beneath Fabian Hurzeler.

Three factors from Southampton, Fulham, Leicester, Crystal Palace and West Ham is a depressing return which has handily undermined any discuss of Champions League glass ceilings being smashed this season. When Brighton beat Manchester Metropolis earlier than the November worldwide break they have been six factors from the summit; six video games later they’re nearer when it comes to factors to a poor West Ham aspect than they’re the highest 4.

However there’s a acquainted feeling of wastefulness. Throughout these 5 video games Brighton have had 80 photographs and conceded 50. Whereas not fairly on the xG-baiting ranges of peak Potterball, there’s a clear want for Hurzeler to attempt one thing completely different. The absence of Danny Welbeck mustn’t negatively impression a staff this closely in huge 2024.

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