Arsenal eye Ivan Toney transfer alternative ‘better than Ronaldo’ as Gabriel Jesus warning sent

Mikel Arteta looks set to try and add a new striker to his Arsenal squad in the January transfer window. A number of players including the likes of Ivan Toney, Santiago Gimenez and Victor Osimhen have all been touted as potential targets.

Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiad have failed to prove they can score goals consistently and produce in the crucial moments of the season. The Gunners are pushing to end their Premier League title drought this season and history has shown that teams that go on to achieve success have a clinical striker leading the attack.

Arsenal have relied upon Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka in the past to score the majority of the goals across all competitions. It’s understandable, then, that Arteta could be keen on bringing in a proven goalscorer in January to help share the pressure as the Gunners aim to win their first title since 2004.

Here, football.london takes a look at the latest rumours and gives a rational-ish take on them.

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has questioned whether Arsenal forwards Nketiah and Jesus have enough quality to fire the Gunners to a Premier League title this term. “There’s one thing about Arsenal, and I’ve watched all of Arsenal’s big games tis season against Tottenham and against [Manchester] City,” began Neville.

“Both were difficult games. Tottenham obviously in very good form and City are City and they don’t give a lot away. [Eddie] Nketiah and [Gabriel] Jesus.

“There’s no doubt Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus work their absolute socks off. But in quality terms, is that going to be enough to win Arsenal the league? That’s my only doubt because if they had a centre-forward, like an Erling Haaland, if they had a Harry Kane – I’d be saying it’s Arsenal if they can keep William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Declan Rice fit.

“Honestly, I worry about Nketiah and Jesus. They’re erratic. They’re not wired to score goals naturally. Instinctively they don’t make the runs that you see goal scorers make.

“They hold back, they’re always looking for the pull-back, they’re never getting across players. I just look at Jesus, he is quite erratic in front of goal. The work ethic of both of them is brilliant. I just question, at that level, can they win the league without another striker.”

football.london says: Gary Neville raises a good point regarding Arsenal’s current striker options. There’s a lot of energy there which may be a positive for the Gunners, but when you need them to make the difference in key moments – their finishing isn’t at the level required.

A player like Ivan Toney is a different profile to Nketiah and Jesus but he may be just what Arsenal need. The Brentford star has proven he is clinical in the Premier League following his 20 goals in 33 games last term and he would add more physicality to the Gunners’ attack.

Toney could be the perfect addition to complement the pace and trickery of Saka and Martinelli moving forward as Arteta looks to evolve his team further. However, the issue for Arsenal is where does that leave Jesus and Nketiah in the squad?

The Brazil international can play anywhere across the attack. But for Nketiah, it more than likely would see him be sold with Toney’s arrival almost definitely pushing him down to third-choice striker.

A report from La Repubblica has claimed Arsenal are interested in Feyenoord striker Santiago Gimenez – who is now ranked as the ninth-best footballer in the world this season above Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. The Mexico international has scored 12 goals and provided two assists for Feyenoord in just eight Eredivisie appearances this season.

Real Madrid, Inter Milan and Borussia Dortmund are also said to be keeping tabs on Gimenez. The Gunners could look to the Mexican forward as a potential alternative to Toney.