Arsenal icon Paul Merson has urged Mikel Arteta to sign Brentford striker Ivan Toney in a January transfer as Gabriel Jesus will not win the Gunners the Premier League title.
The north London natives have fallen to fourth in the table after 20 games and sit five points behind leaders Liverpool. But Merson still believes Arsenal are in the title race despite losing their last two games. The Gunners have also won just one of their last five top-flight fixtures.
Fulham dealt Arsenal their fourth defeat in 20 matches this season on Sunday in a 2-1 win at Craven Cottage. Bukayo Saka (5’) gave Arteta’s team an early lead in west London. But goals in either half by Raul Jimenez (29’) and Bobby De Cordova-Reid (59’) flipped the scoreline.
Arsenal will not win the Premier League title with Gabriel Jesus at striker
A controversial goal by Tomas Soucek (13’) before Konstantinos Mavropanos (55’) scored on his return to Emirates Stadium also saw West Ham United beat Arsenal 2-0 last week. It was also the first loss the Gunners suffered at home this season after seven wins and two draws.
Merson felt Jesus had a few chances to score against West Ham that an attacker like Toney would convert for Arsenal. The 26-year-old has only scored three and assisted a goal in 15 Premier League outings this term. He also only got 11 in 26 last season to Toney’s 20 in 33.
Ben White, in particular, created one clear-cut chance for Arsenal to score against West Ham that Jesus wasted. The full-back lifted a cross toward the far post for the striker to meet. But the Brazil forward sent his unchallenged header over the crossbar with the goal at his mercy.
Paul Merson believes Arsenal ‘have got to’ agree Ivan Toney’s transfer
Now, Arsenal legend Merson has urged Arteta to sign Toney as the Gunners will not win the Premier League title without a new centre-forward. He is adamant that Arteta needs to sign an upgrade on Jesus and Eddie Nketiah, especially after the chances the former has missed.
“If they had beaten West Ham or Fulham and Gabriel Jesus or Eddie Nketiah had got a goal, people might start thinking, ‘Do they need a centre-forward?’” Merson has told Sky Sports. “They need a centre-forward. There is no doubt about that in my opinion.
“Jesus had two chances [against] West Ham, they are gimmes really for someone like an Ivan Toney. For me, there is a long way to go. Arsenal are still in it. I still think they have got to get Ivan Toney. I don’t think they win the league if they don’t get a centre-forward.”
Arsenal are interested in landing Toney’s transfer from Brentford this January at the request of Arteta. The Mirror reports that the Spaniard has marked the 27-year-old as his top striker target. It even notes that Toney is interested in joining Arsenal ahead of his return to action.
Toney can resume his playing career on January 17 after serving an eight-month FA ban this term. Brentford are reluctant to see him leave the Gtech Community Stadium but will listen to offers worth £60m. It might now be just a question of if Arsenal can afford Toney’s transfer.
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