Phil Foden has admitted that an Arsenal transfer target has stunned the England and Manchester City maestro with one ‘unbelievable’ thing they have done at Euro 2024.
This summer has seen Europe’s best players head to Germany to represent their nations. An array of Arsenal transfer targets have also taken to the stage to showcase their talents whilst Spain, France, England and the Netherlands advanced to reach the semi-finals of Euro 2024.
A clutch of Arsenal stars even also still enjoy the chance to finish Euro 2024 with a European Championship winners’ medal draped around their neck. Bukayo Saka, Aaron Ramsdale and Declan Rice will look to help England deny David Raya of Spain and William Saliba of France.
Phil Foden finds Arsenal target Ivan Toney’s penalty technique ‘crazy’
The skills of one Arsenal transfer target have even stunned Manchester City star Foden after Ivan Toney helped England pip Switzerland 5-3 on penalties in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals. The Brentford forward converted the Three Lions’ fourth kick from the spot after a 1-1 draw.
Foden found Toney’s technique from 12 yards out ‘crazy’ after the 28-year-old starred down Yann Sommer before firing past the goalkeeper despite taking his shorter run-up. Toney only had two short steps and never broke eye contact with Sommer yet found the bottom corner.
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“I think Ivan’s [was England’s best penalty] because it’s crazy, to be honest,” Foden has told talkSPORT. “He never looks at the ball and generates the power that he needs to score. So, yeah, I just find it unbelievable how he does that.”
Toney’s penalty handed England a 4-2 lead against Switzerland in their shootout after fellow Arsenal transfer target Jordan Pickford had saved Manuel Akanji’s earlier effort. Saka scored from the spot, too, between goals from Jude Bellingham, Toney and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Ivan Toney has scored 30 of his 32 career open-play penalties
Foden’s praise for Toney’s penalty technique might also now give the Brentford star’s several suitors extra encouragement to eye a transfer. HITC has reported that Arsenal and Chelsea have followed Toney for the past year but no club agrees with Brentford’s £60m asking price.
Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham also like the five-cap forward. But as Toney has now entered the final year of his contract at Brentford, his Premier League suitors only feel he is worth around £40m. The Bees are happy to keep Toney without suitable bids.
For his part, Toney has admitted it is ‘nice’ to be linked with Arsenal and Manchester United and that he ‘would be ready’ to make such a transfer. The attacker’s penalty record may also be a key factor in clubs coming forward having scored 30 of his 32 outside of any shootouts.
Just in October 2018 when Adam Davies of Barnsley saved Toney’s penalty for Peterborough and in April 2023 when the striker missed from 12 yards against Newcastle for Brentford has he failed to convert from the spot. But Toney responded against the Toon to score a penalty.
Arsenal chase Riccardo Calafiori and a mystery German target as England face Switzerland
In this week’s episode of The Arsenal Insider Podcast, Will Jones and Rahul Lakhani debated England’s recent victory against Slovakia at Euro 2024. Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka featured for the Three Lions again, while Kyle Walker of Man City came under scrutiny.
With Arsenal linked to Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, the pair explained why the Italy star may be a perfect fit for Mikel Arteta. Recent social media rumours concerning a possible Arsenal swoop for a Germany International were addressed, with some candidates named.
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