The real reason Mikel Arteta rejected the chance to sign Ivan Toney at Arsenal after transfer meeting

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The Ivan Toney to Arsenal links have finally come to an end following the striker’s move to Saudi Arabia.

The Gunners were heavily linked with a move to sign the England international for about a year.

Rumours claimed Arsenal wanted Toney right after his ban ended in January. Nothing happened then, but several reports suggested that summer move could be on the cards.

However, Arsenal decided against making a move for the 28-year-old in the end, and the reason behind the decision has now emerged, courtesy of The Independent.

Why Mikel Arteta didn’t want to sign Ivan Toney for Arsenal

Arsenal could’ve done with a new striker this summer.

The Gunners have a world-class first-team squad filled with exceptional players in almost every position. However, they lack a prolific goalscorer who guarantees 25 or more goals a season.

That’s why many people have been calling for a new number nine at the Emirates. Alan Shearer even claimed that Arsenal have to sign a new striker to win the Premier League.

Toney was linked with a move to the Emirates, and reports have claimed that Arsenal even held a meeting with the Brentford striker back in March (GMS).

Arteta decided against signing Toney after that meeting, and The Independent have now revealed the reason why the Gunners snubbed him.

It has been claimed that Arteta rejected him because he didn’t feel Toney’s “chemistry would be right with the group”.

Arsenal have decided that they will not sign a player just for the sake of it – whoever comes in has to improve the squad on the pitch as well as fit in with the culture of the club behind the scenes.

Arteta felt Toney didn’t check those boxes, so he was removed from the shortlist.

The one striker Arsenal should go all out for in 2025

Arsenal have decided against signing a new striker in this window, and it remains to be seen if that decision will come back to haunt them.

The Gunners can’t do anything until the next window opens, but it’s very unlike Arsenal to spend big in January. So, we don’t expect a new striker to be signed until the summer of 2025.

The Premier League runners-up will surely be linked with moves to sign a number of centre-forwards across Europe, but we think there’s one very obvious first choice.

Arsenal must go all out and sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United.

We think there isn’t another striker in world football right now who suits the Gunners more than Isak. We’re convinced that signing the Swede will take the club to a whole new level.