Anton Ferdinand believes Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins ‘suits’ Arsenal more than Ivan Toney of Brentford as Mikel Arteta targets the transfer of a forward in January.
Both strikers have emerged as targets for the Gunners in recent months with Arteta eager to get attacking reinforcements. Arsenal have lacked a spark in the final third at times this term compared to last season. Their Premier League title dreams have also taken a big hit of late.
Arsenal sit fourth in the top-flight through 20 games with a five-point deficit to table-toppers Liverpool. The Emirates Stadium natives have further only won one of their last five matches with four goals scored. Arteta’s team have hit a total of 37 for the seventh-best haul so far.
Arsenal have shown interest in Ollie Watkins and Ivan Toney’s transfers
Only Manchester City (53 from 21) had scored more goals than Arsenal (45) after their 20th top-flight fixture last term. The Gunners also sat five points clear at the top of the table with one game in hand. So, Arteta is keen to sign a striker in January to get Arsenal back on track.
Reports by the Mirror have long cited Brentford talisman Toney as Arteta’s top striker target for a transfer to Arsenal in January. The Bees would also consider selling him for £60m in the mid-season sales. While Toney wants to join Arsenal as he returns from an eight-month ban.
But Football Transfers also cited Watkins as a target of Arteta’s back in September before he signed a new contract with Aston Villa. It also added that Edu had spoken with the 28-year-old’s agent, Paulo Vernazza, about a move. Arteta and Watkins also even admire each other.
Anton Ferdinand feels Ollie Watkins ‘suits’ Mikel Arteta’s side
Watkins’ new deal tied the nine-cap England striker down at Villa Park through to June 2028. He has been in Birmingham since September 2020 after arriving from Brentford for an initial £28m, plus £5m in add-ons. The Torquay native has since scored 57 goals over 144 games.
The Villans’ talisman has also scored nine and assisted 10 goals in 20 Premier League games so far this season. He also hit home 15 and assisted six in 37 last term while Toney scored 20 and created four in 33 games. But it is Watkins’ style that Ferdinand appreciates for Arsenal.
Speaking with Danny Mills on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel, Ferdinand simply claimed, “I think Ollie Watkins suits them”. His claim came amid a conversation about if Toney does suit Arsenal’s high-pressing style under Arteta. Mills certainly doubts Toney suiting their style.
“Does he even suit Arsenal?” Mills questioned. “Is he a presser, really? Is he dynamic?”
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