Arsenal transfer news

LAST summer Arsenal spent big on the likes of Declan Rice and Kai Havertz – in the hope they would help them win the Premier League.However, at the halfway stage of the season, they have hit a trough in form, and the goals have dried up.
Ivan Toney is being heavily linked with a move to ArsenalCredit: Getty
Toney could enhance the way Mikel Arteta is trying to playCredit: Alamy
Toney scored 20 Premier League goals last season
The most obvious move in the January window would be to buy a top striker – and Brentford and England star Ivan Toney is the clear favourite.
The 27-year-old is currently serving an eight-month ban for betting on football matches, but the suspension expires in the middle of January.
The question for Arsenal fans is whether Toney would fit their current team and whether coach Mikel Arteta would have to change his tactical system to accommodate the English striker.
SunSport have detailed three main reasons why Toney would be a great signing for Arsenal this window.
READ MORE ON ARSENAL
Aerial power
Toney has a reputation for being an aerially dominant forward despite the fact that he is only 6ft 1in.
He plays in a way that makes him appear bigger than he is due to his anticipation and sense of timing when challenging for aerial duels.
And his athleticism allows him to get great elevation when he leaps to challenge for the ball.
Toney’s dominance aerially and his ability to disrupt opposition defenders would add an extra level to the Arsenal attack.
Most read in Football
At the moment, Arsenal are struggling to break teams down as they have a very structured approach to how they attack.
Under Arteta’s coaching, Arsenal look to dominate and control matches but there is a sense that they are missing a second option and the ability to play in a more direct fashion to a striker.
Toney starts wide and times his movement inside to challenge for the ball, winning the aerial duel and nodding it into space for a team-mate
Having the option to play a more direct pass does not mean that Arsenal would have to resort to playing route one or long ball football.
Having the option of a more direct pass in moments of transition in particular can allow you to turn the opposition and to play quickly into dangerous areas.
A player like Toney would then be effective in terms of being able to receive the ball and bring others into play as they make forward runs to support the attack and get around the ball.
Toney’s ability in the air would also be a good addition for Arsenal with his threat in the penalty area.
He is the kind of striker who creates fear through his positioning, movement and anticipation in the opposition penalty area.
Toney draws defenders towards him, which in turn would create more time and space for Arsenal’s other attacking players.
Eddie Nketiah should be the favourite to win the ball but he loses the aerial duel and Fulham maintain pressure
While Gabriel Jesus is underrated in the air, this is still something that Arsenal are lacking in their attacking options.
Eddie Nketiah is more of a poacher and, while his movement is good and he can drag defenders out of position, he is not the type to receive the ball with his back to goal and bring others into play.
Toney would definitely add an extra dimension to the Arsenal attack.
Creativity
While Toney has a reputation for being physical and strong in the air, there is far more to his game than meets the eye.
This is why the interest from Arsenal in Toney’s signature actually makes a lot of sense.
Toney is a mobile striker who has a balanced profile.
He is comfortable playing with his back to goal and receiving the ball with defenders tight to him, or when looking to peel off to attack the channels and make runs behind the defensive line.
When he receives the ball in the opposition half he has the ability and quality to find passes that break the last line to play team-mates through on goal.
His partnership with Bryan Mbuemo is based on the way that the two of them link together in the final third.
Toney draws opposition players in before he turns and sees Mbeum as he plays the ball through the defensive line
The ability of Toney to receive the ball deep and bring others into play would work extremely well for Arsenal because of the way they attack in the final third.
This is especially true with the movement from the wide areas into the central spaces from the likes of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
While Jesus has the capacity to drop into space and link play ahead of him, the same cannot be said of Nketiah.
With Jesus also capable of playing on the left of a striker, Toney would add to Arsenal’s attacking options.
Gabriel Jesus drops deep, gets on the turn and finds the through ball
The technical quality and ability of Toney to play effectively in these deeper areas would work well for Arsenal.
Presence in the opposition area
While Toney is capable of dropping off the front line to receive the ball in the opposition half of the pitch, he is equally adept at finding space and creating danger in the area.
Toney is not a striker who is overly quick or dynamic and he relies on his movement and timing in the area to create space.
Toney would enhance the way Arsenal play as there are times when Jesus drops out of the penalty area to link play.
Having a striker that can remain central and act as the focal point for the attack would bring an extra dimension to Arsenal.
How Arsenal’s two main strikers compare this season
Toney has the instinct to pull off the last defender at the back post and finish off the cross
While Jesus and Nketiah are competent forwards, when it comes to their movement in the area there is a case to be made that Toney’s all-round game and balanced profile makes him a stronger option to lead the line for Arsenal.
Arsenal attack from the right while Jesus is positioned in a deeper central area
Toney is the type of striker who can come in and enhance the best parts of the way that Arsenal attack.
It would be hugely beneficial for Arsenal to have an attacking player who can make the most of the crosses and passes that Saka delivers into the area.
Toney is a more reliable striker than Jesus or Nketiah, so it makes sense for Arsenal to recruit him.
Conclusion
While Arsenal’s interest in Toney adds up from a tactical perspective, the deal is not set to be easy for Arsenal to push through.
Toney will start to lose his value as his contract is up at the end of the 2024/25 season, but Brentford are not the kind of team to give up a key player on the cheap.
Read more on The Sun
It is likely Arsenal will have to pay a significant fee to the striker – but he could very well be worth it.
Do you want more than just a match report when it comes to your football content? Get the daily tactical analysis, data and scouting from Total Football Analysis for just £5.20 per month. You get 10+ articles per week, 2x digital magazines per month and access to our huge archive of articles, reports and more More

THE January window provides an opportunity for Mikel Arteta to breathe new life into his struggling Arsenal side.The Gunners have won just one of their last five Premier League games, and have fallen from being top on Christmas day down to fourth after successive losses in the capital.
Mikel Arteta wants to add to his squad in JanuaryCredit: Getty
Last week they had 30 shots on goal at the Emirates but still managed to lose 2-0 to West Ham before a dismal 2-1 defeat away to goal-shy Fulham.
Arteta is in need of some spark, and fresh faces could be the key, but the Spaniard has suggested the club need to sell first before considering splashing the cash this month.
Alongside sporting director Edu, Arteta has several game plans depending on who they can shift and how quickly they can act in the market.
Here, SunSport assesses six options the Arsenal boss has in adding to his transfer kitty:
Read More on Arsenal
CEDRIC SOARES
The 32-year-old Portuguese full-back has been deemed surplus to requirements in North London for some time now, having spent the end of last season on loan at Fulham.
His contract expires in the summer, with the club very unlikely to extend his deal after initially signing on loan in January 2020 from Southampton before making it permanent that summer.
Cedric Soares has made just two first team appearances this seasonCredit: Reuters
Arteta has previously spoken of Cedric’s positive influence in the dressing room and in training, but game time has been seriously limited – just 65 minutes this campaign.
Turkish sides Besiktas and Trabzonspor are interested in a loan plus an obligation to buy. Arsenal would rather sell now, but may be left with little choice if offers come in.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
It could be seen as a gamble by Arteta, given Arsenal’s injury issues in that position, but Takehiro Tomiyasu returned to action at Craven Cottage while Jurrien Timber is expected to make his long-awaited comeback in mid-February.
EDDIE NKETIAH
The future looked bright for the England striker when he signed a new long-term deal at Arsenal in the summer of 2022 – taking on Thierry Henry’s famous No.14 shirt.
But since then, despite an impressive goal-to-game ratio – mainly from the bench – Nketiah has struggled to convince Arteta he can lead the line for an entire season.
Eddie Nketiah has been linked with a January move to Crystal PalaceCredit: Getty
As it stands, Arteta wants to keep him at the club, a useful squad player who is currently Arsenal’s joint-top Prem scorer with five goals in 10 starts so far.
There has been interest around the 24-year-old for some time now, and Crystal Palace are keeping tabs this month on a potential move.
With his contract not expiring until 2027, Arsenal would be looking for an extraordinary offer to let Nketiah leave. Until then, he will remain in Arteta’s plans.
EMILE SMITH ROWE
Despite still having his minutes managed since coming back from injury, it was a surprise to see Smith Rowe an unused sub as Arsenal pushed for an equaliser against Fulham.
During the early days of Arteta’s reign, he was one of catalysts for their upturn in form, providing goals, assists and energy.
Emile Smith Rowe has suffered several injury issues in the last 18 monthsCredit: Alamy
Now, since his last new contract in July 2021, he has made 51 Prem appearances across three seasons, yet has made just one Prem start across the past two seasons.
He may be a fan favourite, but Arteta could see this as the time to cash in on a young player who still has potential to make his mark in this division.
Tied up until 2026, Arsenal will again be waiting for a significant offer before making a decision.
Newcastle have previously been interested but are only looking at loan deals with an obligation to buy during this window, and have their eyes on Manchester City’s Kalvin Phillips.
AARON RAMSDALE
The player who more than most has his eyes on the exit door with the Euros approaching in the summer, having been ousted as No.1 by the arrival of David Raya in the summer.
Ramsdale was bought for £30m including add-ons from Sheffield United in the summer of 2021. His contract expires in 2026 with an option to extend until 2027.
Aaron Ramsdale is no longer Arsenal’s No1Credit: Getty
Arsenal will want to at least get back what they put in should he leave, but again, Arteta has been insistent in his desire for Ramsdale to fight for his place from the bench.
Yet Ramsdale knows his Three Lions chances are slipping away week by week. He has made just five Prem appearances this season, the last one coming in November.
Chelsea and Newcastle are keeping tabs on the situation, both clubs suffering from injuries to their first-choice keepers currently.
JAKUB KIWIOR
The Polish defender only signed last January in a £20m five-and-a-half-year deal from Italian outfit Spezia, but is already fighting to stay in North London.
Kiwior was axed at half-time against Fulham having struggled in an unfamiliar left-back role, just his eighth Prem appearance of the season.
Jakub Kiwior has failed to impress so far this seasonCredit: Getty
Like Cedric, it would be a risk to sell him without bringing in a like-for-like given Arsenal’s injury worries at the back, as well as Kiwior’s flexibility in defence and holding midfield.
It could be a departure that makes sense given Tomiyasu, Timber and Thomas Partey are all expected back within the next month.
However, Tomiyasu is set to join up with Japan for the Asian Cup and Kiwior may be needed as cover.
REISS NELSON
One of Arteta’s most loyal servants and a player the Spanish coach still feels he can get more from, Nelson has been on the periphery of the starting XI for some time.
The issue for the 24-year-old academy graduate is that he is attempting to break into a crowded position – one that already has Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Reiss Nelson signed a new four-year deal in JulyCredit: Alamy
The four-year deal he signed back in July will help keep his price high should Arteta feel, like Smith Rowe’s situation, that now is the time to cash in and move on.
Read more on The Sun
Again, it would be a risk to see a valued squad member depart. Wolves have been interested in the player in the past, and Nelson is sure to attract further Prem suitors should offers begin to flood in.
For now, Arteta is happy with Nelson’s position in the squad, but his impacts off the bench this season have been underwhelming at best. More

FULHAM have extended Tom Cairney’s contract by one more year.The Scottish midfielder, who would have been a free agent this summer, is now tied to the club until 2025 meaning he will complete a decade of service at Craven Cottage.
Fulham have extended Tom Cairney’s contract by one more yearCredit: Rex
This is because Fulham have triggered their option of giving Cairney an extra 12 months after some impressive recent performances for Marco Silva’s side.
The 32-year-old was impressive in his team’s 2-1 win over Arsenal on Sunday and he made his 300th club appearance in the 5-0 thrashing of West Ham last month.
A £2.8million signing from Blackburn in 2015, he missed the start of this season with a knee injury but has worked his way back into the team.
His contract extension follows the news that Tim Ream has extended his stay at Fulham until 2025. He also joined the club in 2015.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Also revealed by SunSport, Tosin Adarabioyo has told Fulham he wants to leave at the end of the season as a free agent.
The Cottagers have offered the centre-back, 26, a new deal with his current terms due to expire in the summer.
But Tosin, who attracted interest from Tottenham and Monaco during the last transfer window, is expected to snub it as he wishes to move on for nothing when the campaign ends.
Spurs have made signing a new centre-back their top transfer priority in January.
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
At present, Fulham still expect the Manchester City academy product to stay in January despite there only being months remaining on his deal.
Tosin will be able to agree a pre-contract agreement with foreign clubs from the start of next month.
Silva is believed to have not given up hope that Tosin will have a change of heart before the season ends.
Tosin Adarabioyo has told Fulham he wants to leave at the end of the seasonCredit: AFP More

ARSENAL are reportedly open to letting Takehiro Tomiyasu leave on loan next month.The Gunners are expected to be active in the January transfer market as they target their first Premier League title in 20 years.
Napoli are reportedly interested in signing Takehiro Tomiyasu on loanCredit: Alamy
The Serie A champions are also interested in Jakub KiwiorCredit: AFP
Mikel Arteta is eager to sign a defender, a midfielder and a striker when the window opens.
However, some current players will have to be offloaded to make way for new additions.
And according to Italian outlet Il Mattino, Tomiyasu could be allowed to leave.
Napoli are understood to be interested in signing the full-back on loan in January.
READ MORE ON ARSENAL
The Serie A champions are also considering a swoop for Jakub Kiwior, but Arsenal are less likely to sanction a loan for him.
Arteta is allegedly willing to let Kiwior leave in a permanent transfer next month.
The 23-year-old has been limited to 21 appearances since joining Arsenal in January 2022.
Meanwhile, Tomiyasu has established himself as an important member of Arteta’s squad.
Most read in Football
FREE BETS – BEST BETTING OFFERS & NEW CUSTOMER BONUSES
The full-back has made 19 appearances so far this season, but recently suffered a calf injury which has left him sidelined.
Arsenal currently sit second in the Premier League table, two points behind leaders Liverpool.
The Gunners have been linked with several players ahead of the January transfer window, including Ivan Toney, Dominic Solanke and Matthijs de Ligt. More