A round-up of the latest Arsenal news as Mikel Arteta targets the transfer of another AFC Ajax defender and is warned about a swoop to sign Brentford striker Ivan Toney.
Gabriel Jesus is one of three ‘question marks’ in the Arsenal squad
England cult hero Stuart Pearce has named Gabriel Jesus as one of three ‘question marks’ in the Arsenal squad. He further cites concerns about Eddie Nketiah and Kai Havertz providing enough goals to fire the Gunners all the way to winning the Premier League title this season.
Arsenal have scored 36 goals during 18 Premier League fixtures so far this term. Nketiah and Bukayo Saka also lead the way with five apiece, ahead of Havertz and Martin Odegaard with four. Jesus has only scored three goals acorss his 827 minutes of top-flight action this term.
Jesus further only scored 11 goals in 26 games after joining Arsenal from Manchester City in 2022/23. While the 26-year-old’s single-season best came in 2019/20 when he scored 14 in 34 games. Nketiah has also matched his previous single-season-best haul of five this term.
So, Pearce feels Arsenal may be light at the end of the term if Arteta does not sign a 20 goal-a-season striker in January. Havertz has only played 15 minutes as a striker so far this term. His single-season high of eight goals in 29 matches also came in 2021/22 while at Chelsea.
“You look at some of the high-flying teams around the world, they might have four options up front,” Pearce told the Express. “There are still slight question marks about Nketiah and Jesus. Maybe even if Havertz plays up top, there’s a question mark there.
“If an out-and-out goalscorer that guarantees 20-odd goals-a-season [becomes available], that would push Arsenal’s credentials even further.”
Read more about what Pearce has had to say about Arsenal’s strikers, here.
Arsenal risk a ‘big’ issue by sealing Ivan Toney’s transfer from Brentford
While Pearce feels Arsenal may be light on goalscorers, he has also raised concerns about a transfer from Brentford for Toney. According to the Mirror, Arteta has placed the 27-year-old atop his striker shortlist for January. But the Bees are demanding no less than £60m for him.
Toney wants to secure a transfer to Arsenal next month, as well, as the forward maps out his future. He can return to playing after an eight-month FA ban in the middle of January. Arteta hopes his return is at Arsenal after Toney hit 20 goals in 33 Premier League games last term.
Only Erling Haaland (36) and Harry Kane (30) outscored Toney in the top-flight last term. Yet while Pearce appreciates what he gave the Bees, he questions if Arsenal would get value for their money by targeting Toney’s transfer given the price tag Brentford have set for January.
“The big thing is the age of Toney might come into consideration,” Pearce also explained to the Express. “People want value for money. He is certainly – before he was laid up – he was firing particularly well and did brilliantly for Brentford. I think he’s an outstanding player.
“But whether what it would cost to get him out of Brentford is value for money? I don’t know. Brentford will want top dollar for him, having sat with the player for the best part of nine months without him kicking a ball.”
Read more about what Pearce has had to say about Arsenal’s interest in Toney, here.
Arsenal could offer Jorrel Hato his dream transfer from Ajax
Arsenal could now offer Jorrel Hato his dream transfer with Arteta interested in signing the 17-year-old from Ajax. That is according to The Athletic, which reports that the Gunners are monitoring the centre-back having emerged as one of the bright spots from Ajax’s troubles.
Despite his tender age, Hato has already captained Ajax at times this season and earned his Netherlands debut in November. Arsenal also admire that his performances have come as a left-sided centre-half or a left-back. So, he can complement Jurrien Timber in north London.
Arsenal also believe Hato can adapt to Arteta’s system quickly, like Timber did after his move from Ajax in July. The Gunners feel de Godenzonen’s model is similar to theirs, so Timber hit the ground running before his possibly term-ending ACL injury on his Premier League debut.
But Ajax will demand a lofty fee to sell Hato, having started all 25 of their fixtures this term. He also boasts one goal and one assist in 16 Eredivisie games amid their plight. Ajax only sit fifth in the table and are 23 points behind leaders PSV Eindhoven after 16 top-flight fixtures.
A transfer to Arsenal does appeal to Hato, though, having admitted recently that his ‘dream’ is to follow Timber’s career. The defenders are both products of Ajax’s academy system after joining from rival clubs in their youth. Hato also played 14 senior games with Timber at Ajax.
“He is still young and has a bright future ahead of him,” Hato told ELF Voetbal this October about Timber. “In any case, the move to Arsenal was a wonderful one for him. It is also my dream to one day make such a transfer. But I realise that I still have a very long way to go.”
Read more about Arsenal’s interest in Hato’s transfer from Ajax, here.
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