Arsenal’s 2-1 victory over Brentford at Emirates Stadium provided Mikel Arteta with valuable insights and considerations as the Gunners currently lead the Premier League table. Kai Havertz and Declan Rice found the net for Arsenal, while Yoane Wissa scored for Brentford.
In preparations for the upcoming clash against Porto, crucial updates have emerged on key players. Leandro Trossard replaced Gabriel Martinelli in the starting XI, and Aaron Ramsdale took the goalkeeping duties in place of the ineligible David Raya.
A notable return is on the horizon, with Gabriel Jesus featuring for 20 minutes in his recovery from a knee injury. However, Havertz’s stellar performance in a central role suggests that the Brazilian striker may not immediately return to the starting lineup.
Amidst these developments, Ivan Toney, a reported transfer target for Arsenal, shared a post-match moment with Mikel Arteta. Although the details of their conversation remain undisclosed, speculations suggest that Arteta might be persuading Toney to consider a move to the Emirates, similar to his approach with Jorginho during his time at Chelsea.
Ivan Toney was spotted with Mikel Arteta after full time as both men were chatting and laughing at the same time, but nothing of the conversation was revealed to the public, however it was evident that the Arsenal Boss may have been persuading the Brentford striker to consider a move to the Emirates as he did to Jorginho while he was at Chelsea.
Gabriel Megalhaes who also has some previous bad blood with the England striker was spotted alongside both men after the final whistle and it seems as though Arteta has settled them both after they were caught sharing a smile.
Despite Toney’s goal at Emirates Stadium last season, the recent match served as an audition for the striker’s potential transfer to Arsenal. However, Gabriel Magalhaes, despite being on an early yellow card, dominated the physical battle against Toney.
William Saliba also left Toney on the ground with a firm shoulder barge. Arsenal’s defensive duo, Saliba and Gabriel, effectively contained Toney, limiting his attacking impact.
Given Toney’s substantial asking price of around £80 million, the report suggests that Arsenal might find such an investment unlikely, especially with the impressive options Arteta currently has at his disposal, including Havertz, Trossard, and the returning Jesus.
The Gunners’ strategic considerations for their squad depth and transfer targets are crucial as they navigate both domestic and European competitions.
As Arsenal continues to compete at the top of the Premier League, Arteta’s decisions on player selection and potential transfers will play a pivotal role in their pursuit of success this season and beyond.