‘Eddie Nketiah is not going to win you the Premier League’ – Arsenal urged by Paul Merson to join January transfer scramble for banned Brentford striker Ivan Toney

England international striker Toney is currently serving a ban at Brentford for breaches of Football Association betting regulations. He has, however, returned to training with the Bees and will be free to resume his professional career at the start of 2024.

Arsenal may be in the market for another frontman at that stage, with the Gunners currently relying on Nketiah and Brazil international Gabriel Jesus to provide title-chasing firepower. Merson has told Sky Sports of that situation: “I’ve always said it from day one – Eddie Nketiah is not going to win you the Premier League. You need a proper centre forward. I’m not blaming Nketiah because they drew 2-2 with Tottenham. But with 32 games to go and all the Champions League games they have to play, I don’t think he takes them to the next level. I don’t even think Gabriel Jesus takes them to the next level. I was so confident that Arsenal would win on Sunday but when I saw the teams, I was majorly worried. Jesus on the wing, Nketiah up front, Fabio Vieira – I don’t think he’s good enough. Then Declan Rice comes off and Jorginho comes on. It wasn’t Arsenal’s strongest team but when you think about the Champions League and all the games they have to play, it looked a bit weak on Sunday, didn’t it?”

Ex-Arsenal star Merson believes that a raid on Brentford could be the solution for Mikel Arteta – with Toney having hit 32 goals through 66 Premier League appearances. Merson added: “It’s alright sitting there and thinking ‘they need a centre forward’ – but who is there? Only Ivan Toney is available for them in January – there aren’t many centre forwards around in the world. They’re a dying breed. Toney is a good player – he can hold the ball up, he’s good in the air. Arsenal might have to go for him. But there are not a million centre forwards around.”

Arsenal may well decide to make a move for Toney in the next transfer window, but they would likely face competition for the powerful 27-year-old as he is already said to be registering on the recruitment radar of London rivals Chelsea – a team crying out for attacking inspiration following a disappointing start to the 2023-24 campaign.