Shearer outlined what a team needs to do to get the best out of Strand Larsen in April, after he scored for Wolves in a 2-1 win against Ipswich Town. Shearer said: “He has got 11 goals this season, four in his past three games. Wolves have won three games and drawn one.
“So that tells you the answer about what they are going to do without their best player (Matheus Cunha, who was suspended and has since joined Manchester United). He was a nuisance. His hold-up play was excellent, and I thought his touch and his control were superb.
“Wolves didn’t play that well in the first half, but they certainly improved in the second. When you’ve got a guy who’s 6’4, you have to get balls into the box, and they certainly did that in the second half.”
Currently, Howe’s Newcastle prioritise swift, sharp passes and pressing to regain possession high up the pitch, transforming defence into attack rapidly. Yet, Strand Larsen’s lack of pace compared to Isak might prompt a tactical shift to that rule of thumb in order to exploit his target man abilities.
With his towering presence, Strand Larsen can dominate aerial duels and provide a pivot for Newcastle’s attack, allowing players like Anthony Elanga, Anthony Gordon and Harvey Barnes to make runs off him. Should he join, Newcastle could face a dilemma similar to Arsenal who are playing in a different way compared to last season.
They are looking to move the ball up the pitch at much greater speed, compared to last season where they’re build-up was more patient. While they are not necessarily resorting to long balls, they are looking to get the ball into Gyokeres’ feet or in-behind the defence, so he can use his pace to latch onto the pass.
The ex-Sporting CP striker scored his first two Premier League goals for Arsenal as the north Londoners thrashed Leeds United 5-0. He demonstrated his tidy footwork and clinical finishing ability in his first goal, before dispatching a penalty to make the score five.
It was a drastic improvement from Arsenal’s 1-0 away victory over Manchester United, where he was hooked after 60 minutes and replaced by Kai Havertz at Old Trafford. The Swede will face his biggest challenge on the weekend, when the Gunners travel to Anfield to face Premier League champions Liverpool.
