'He's Outstanding': Paul Merson lavishes high praise on Newcastle United star - Not Alexander Isak

With his Arsenal connections and Southern base of operations, it's hardly a surprise when Paul Merson speaks highly of Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak.

There have been times when Paul Merson has been unable to hide his Arsenalness in his Newcastle United score predictions when the Sweden international has been mentioned.

As part of that southern movement of insisting that Arsenal have a divine right to sign Alexander Isak, it's barely even a story when he, or others like him, wax lyrical about the Newcastle striker.

However, unless I've missed a story linking Arsenal with Sandro Tonali, this praise seems genuine and not motivated by a belief that he will soon be an Arsenal man.

Paul Merson has compared Sandro Tonali to Ballon d'Or winner Rodri

Merson has compared Tonali to Manchester City's Rodri when speaking on Sky Sports on Saturday (h/t Newcastle World).

“Tonali is back. I think he’ll be the next Rodri. He’s outstanding, I’m a big fan of his. It’s a big call but he sits behind Bruno (Guimaraes) and gives Bruno more chances to bomb forward.

“With Joelinton, naturally a centre-forward who now plays in midfield and (therefore) always going to be getting into the box. They’ve been outstanding, those three. They’ve dominated games.

“They are flying at the moment. (Sven) Botman came in and hadn’t played for how long? He just steps in and plays. It’s amazing. They’re flying. There’s a cliche in football ‘The next goal is important’. No more so than in the next leg. Arsenal have to score first, whatever happens.”

AC Milan fans knew what they had in Sandro Tonali and now Newcastle fans are seeing it

Comparing Tonali to Rodri is massive considering he recently won the Ballon d'Or and that Man City have been a mess without him. AC Milan fans clearly knew Tonali's potential as they still haven't got over his move to Tyneside, and Newcastle are now starting to see what the Italian can do.

Mind, calling Joelinton a centre-forward is a stretch. Yes, that's what he was signed as, but he was never a centre-forward before he came to Newcastle, and his performances in that role would heavily suggest that he wasn't one for us either.

Still, it's good to get some Paul Merson compliments that don't have a hidden Arsenal agenda.