Mikel Arteta has found the missing piece of his puzzle… Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Arsenal have made an excellent start to the 2023/24 campaign, although Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar are hoping for time to reach the January transfer window. The Gunners are just one point off the summit after 12 Premier League games, but injury plagued the squad in the early stages of the campaign to highlight the deep-seated problems that have hampered the north Londoners’ plans to win the league last time out. . deadline With key members of the XI out, the upcoming January transfer window could shed light on where Arsenal see their recruitment needs, with midfield one of the key areas to assess in early 2024. Apart from midfield, the current theme of the Gunners’ shortcomings is a lack of strength to lead the line, with Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus the only two recognizable centre-forwards in the first team. The January window could come in time for Arteta to strengthen his options going forward, with a number of names already linked with a move to the Emirates. Arsenaland#039 January transfer target According to Football Transfers , Juventus talisman Dusan Vlahovic is the manager’s “priority” ninth target and the 23-year-old is known for his influence in Italy’s final third. The report details Arsenal’s previous interest in the Serbian, who has been linked with the Premier League outfit ahead of his move to Juve in January 2022. dusan-vlahovic-juventus-premier league The Serie A Dynamo have a market value of €80m (£70m) and could be an expensive striker to sign, especially as his form has dipped since his move to Turin, where he scored almost 21 league goals for the Bianconeri. his last spell. two years Closer to home, the Gunners could choose a more reliable individual to lead their line in the future, with links to Brentford’s Ivan Toney re-emerging. Speaking about the north London club on the CEO podcast, the Englishman emerged as a potential talent for Arteta, with several news outlets reporting Arsenal’s apparent interest. A report by journalist John Cross via The Mirror in September claimed that both Arsenal and Chelsea are eyeing the 27-year-old in January, when his ban on betting offenses expires. Adding to the initial report, The Mirror reported earlier this month that the Bees had to slap £100m on their star man to fend off interest from Arteta and Edu. However, things may take a new turn. This week, 90min reported that Toney is “demanding” a release clause in his current contract which would allow interested parties to pry him away from Brentford if an agreed fee is met. The report also mentioned that both Arsenal and Chelsea were in “discussions” with the forward’s representatives, making his future move interesting. Ivan Toney’s career in numbers With manager Thomas Frank calling it “crucial”, it’s no surprise that Brentford want to keep hold of the striker, who has made a big impact since arriving at the west London club in 2020. Toney has tested in the top four tiers of English football of League Two, League One, Championship and Premier League, scoring 165 career goals for a handful of clubs. Ivan Toney’s career scoring record in home leagues Link appearance goals help Too many two 53 11 5 League One 165 65 21 championships 45 31 10 Premier League 68 32 9 Figures via Transfermarkt Players often fail to replicate the form shown in leagues below the top flight, but the Northampton-born star has defied such odds to become one of the Premier League’s deadliest strikers since the Bees’ promotion. In his debut season at Brentford, the forward fired his new club into the Premier League, scoring 41 goals in 45 games, winning 31 and assisting ten to introduce himself in style in west London. ivan-toney-brentford In his two Premier League campaigns at the Gtech Community Stadium, Toney scored 32 goals, 12 in his first season and 20 last season, finishing the 2022/23 calendar year as the league’s top scorer behind Erling Haaland and Harry Kane. . With pace, power, strong finishing and, most importantly, spark up top, the £100m England international could prove invaluable to Arsenal. Why would Ivan Toney be a strong signing for Arsenal? It’s clear that Toney would improve the Gunners’ current striking options based on his goalscoring record alone, with his 32 Premier League goals in two seasons surpassing the talents of Jesus and Nketiah. The former Manchester City gem scored 28 goals in his previous three full seasons in the league, while the 24-year-old is yet to hit 20 goals in 101 appearances, underlining the Brentford man’s extra firepower. Arsenal have not had an established striker since Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang, the first Gunners centre-forward to score 20-plus goals in the league since Robin van Persie in 2011/12, and winger Alexis Sanchez is the only player to score 20 goals . . . barrier via Transfermarkt. Although the north Londoner was outside the ranks of coaches, players and forwards during his time with the Emirates in Gabon, his goalscoring streak gave the team a reliable outlet for the team’s creativity. Aubameyang 18/19 PL vs Toney 22/23 PL Stats Statistical Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang Ivan Toney goals 22 20 Frequency of evaluation 124 min 148 min Shots on goal per game 1.1 1.3 Great opportunities were missed 23 16 Conversion rate % 23% 21% Figures via Sofascore If signed, Toney Arteta could emulate the former Borussia Dortmund talisman’s clinical streak for his current side, who are already making waves in the Premier League without the help of a prolific number nine. Aubameyang arrived at a time of rebuilding and he scored goals, while the 27-year-old could arrive at a time when he would be the missing piece in the manager’s puzzle that could turn Arsenal’s rebuilding hopes around. belongs to the European elite. A hefty price tag and a club that isn’t
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