The Elusive Number 9: Ivan Toney

Introduction

As we approach the business end of the season, chasing that illustrious top four spot, it is equally as important to plan ahead to next season. In this series, I will be profiling the best possible acquisitions we can make to really propel this side to the next level. 

To kick off the series, we will be looking at the all important hunt for our next star-studded striker. I have compiled a list of names that we could potentially be seeing grace the pitch at The Emirates next season. As Champions League football is not confirmed for Arsenal next season, I will look at potential prospects for both scenarios.  So, without further ado, let’s delve into the meatiest search of the lot.

Ivan Toney is currently enjoying his first season in the Premier League with newcomers Brentford, who have impressed many this season. The frontman has notched 14 goals in 33 games in all competitions this season playing in a front two alongside Bryan Mbuemo. Despite not being the most prolific or star studded name in the world of football, this transfer just makes sense for Arteta’s Arsenal. He may not have a name that will get you off your seat, or someone you dream of seeing playing in the flesh, but rather a sensible and realistic pick. 

Strengths

It’s clear Toney knows where the back of the net is, demonstrated by his prolific goal record. In his previous two seasons, he bagged a whopping 57 goals between both Peterborough of League 1 and Brentford in the Championship, setting a Championship record of 31 goals in one season (since beaten by Fulham’s Aleksandar Mitrovic). His seamless transition from League One to the Championship and then the Premier League is primarily due to his excellent off the ball movement. Below you can feast your eyes on just one example of his attacking intellect, completely bamboozling the defender before relentlessly firing a volley goalbound.

 

Toney’s ability in front of goal should not be downplayed whatsoever. The calibre of his ball striking compares to the most ruthless finishers on the planet, giving Toney the ability to score from anywhere in and around the box. In the image below, Toney starts on the wide left, squaring up his full back before driving into the box to produce a tidy finish through a crowded penalty area.

Whilst his ability in front of goal is impressive, it’s not his only pulling factor. It is only when you pull back the curtain and truly dissect the player in question that you see that it is an insult to label Ivan Toney as just a goalscorer. He is much more. Typically, he plays in an old fashioned ‘big and small’ partnership with Mbuemo, in which he plays as the target man. Likewise with Aaron Ramsdale, David Raya boasts an impressive kicking range, which has been heavily utilised by the side this season. Winning 4.86 aerial duels per 90 makes Toney one of the best aerial forwards in Europe, which could definitely compliment Arsenal and their aerial woes in attack, and also provide us with another avenue of attack by having that ‘outball’.

He demonstrates well his ability to create chances as well as bury them by his tendencies to drop into the midfield and link up play. His skill set is unique and desirable, especially for a team like Arsenal. Essentially, this man is the same mould as Harry Kane, minus a few attributes. He has recorded 5 assists this season, and also racked up an impressive 10 assists last season in the Championship. Coupled with the marauding Gabriel Martinelli, Arsenal could very well boast a partnership that is not too dissimilar to that of our local rivals, Kane and Son. 

In the two images below we can see Toney illustrating his ability to link up and create chances for his teammates, something that will be pivotal to his role at Arsenal. The first image displays Toney beautifully disguising a pass into Onyeka, despite his body position insinuating he will knock it back to a centre back. In the second image Toney exhibits his vision and creative capabilities, which really embellishes his uniqueness as a number 9.

His scoring record this season may not have the ‘wow’ factor of other forwards in the continent, but any doubts should really be dismissed when you consider the context of his role at Brentford. He performs as one half of a front pairing at Brentford, but would be required to play as a lone man for Arsenal. Both his hold up and link up play would flatter players like Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith-Rowe and Gabriel Martinelli, making him a dependable and instrumental part of the side. We have lacked having that option in a physically deprived Lacazette, who struggles to perform as a real outlet on occasions. 

It is equally as important to Arteta to be able to work hard and have some sort of defensive resilience, which Toney also has in his locker. In many a game this season, Arseanl have been required to endure long spells of pressure in big games, notably versus Liverpool and Man City, so having a forward like Toney would certainly help relieve some of that perpetual pressure.

Weaknesses

His discipline. I could just be nit-picking here, as I am genuinely struggling to find any real weaknesses to his game, but he can be prone to a booking. He received the most bookings in his team in his League One campaign with Peterborough, with 10 yellow cards in 32 appearances, followed by 7 bookings in his record breaking Championship season with Brentford. Another 7 bookings has followed to date in this seasons Premier League, which does not insist his disciplinary record is improving whatsoever.

“I get told off by my mum for being a bit rough on the pitch. I’m in the referee’s ear a lot – referees probably hate me – but it’s just part of my game. My mum tells me off for that as well; speaking to refs too much.”

Ivan Toney, 2021

Summary

Toney will probably demand a substantial fee. A fee that will compare him to some of the most elite strikers in Europe, due to his age, homegrown status and the fact he is owned by another Premier League club. This could well be a major stumbling block with regards to a move to the Emirates this summer. However it is one I hope we can work around. If we are talking figures, £40m would be an absolute bargain for this man, £50m would be doable, but upwards of £60m would probably prompt Arteta to seek elsewhere for his shiny new striker.

It is important to remember that identifying the right price is as crucial as identifying the right player too. Manchester United are great examples to this. United often spend large on exciting talents with big names, which has been a major contribution to their downfall in recent times. Liverpool on the other hand, flaunt their ability to buy a player suited to their system for a reasonable price, Luis Diaz, Mohamed Salah and Thiago to name a few. These three players cost Liverpool around £90m in total. Harry Maguire cost United £80m. No further comment necessary.

Overall Rating: 10/10