Arsenal have been urged to target a transfer for Dominic Solanke over Ivan Toney in January as the AFC Bournemouth striker is a ‘better fit’ than the Brentford talisman.
That is the opinion of Matt Holland, who believes Solanke would suit the way Arsenal play a bit more than Toney. Both strikers have emerged as potential targets for Mikel Arteta in the January market. And Holland believes the Gunners’ attack is missing a spark so far this term.
Arsenal only have the seventh-best offence in the Premier League this season with 37 goals in 20 games. Arteta’s offence ranked second to Manchester City (53) after their 20th fixture of 2022/23 with 45. Even though 14 teams had played 21 times and two had also played 22.
Mikel Arteta will target Dominic Solanke without Ivan Toney’s transfer
Hale End hero Bukayo Saka has scored six of their 37 Premier League goals this term. Fellow Arsenal academy graduate, Eddie Nketiah, ranks second at Emirates Stadium with five to Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard with four. Gabriel Jesus is one of three players with just three.
Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli were Arsenal’s top scorers last season with 15 goals apiece. But Martinelli has only scored twice this term and required a huge deflection off Nathan Ake to score against Manchester City. So, Arteta is targeting Toney or Solanke’s January transfer.
The Daily Star reports that Arteta has marked Bournemouth striker Solanke as Arsenal’s No2 transfer target behind Brentford talisman Toney. Arteta would love to sign Toney but accepts a deal may be off the table in January. Solanke has also impressed Arsenal with his displays.
Matt Holland feels the Bournemouth striker suits Arsenal ‘a bit better’
Arsenal appreciate Solanke’s hard-working efforts on the south coast and believe he can still improve. Bournemouth are also open to selling Solanke for £50m amid further interest from West Ham United. The Irons can only move if David Moyes sells some fringe players, though.
A deal for Toney would cost Arsenal £60m, per the Mirror, which also reports the Brentford striker as Arteta’s top striker transfer target. It also notes that the 27-year-old wants to join the Gunners in January. He can restart playing later this month after an eight-month FA ban.
Toney scored 20 goals in 33 Premier League games last season compared to Solanke’s six in 33 appearances. But Solanke also offered seven assists to Toney’s four, and the 26-year-old has scored 12 in 19 this term. So, Holland thinks the Cherries ace would be a better signing.
“If I was Mikel Arteta and I was looking for someone now, I might be looking at someone like Dominic Solanke,” Holland told talkSPORT. “I think he fits them a little bit better.
“The style of play, the way he drops into midfield, the way he gets on the ball and his ability on the ball, I think suits Arsenal a little bit more than Ivan Toney.
“Whether you can get him from Bournemouth and consider how much he costs, who knows – January is notoriously difficult to try and prise people away from other clubs. But I do feel there’s something not quite right with them in the final third.”
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