Kai Havertz is still dividing fans despite scoring goals for Arsenal and putting in strong performances.
The summer transfer window slams shut on Friday and Arsenal fans are hoping for a possible late surprise from their club.
Arsenal signed Mikel Merino to add more guile and legs to their midfield, but do they still need a proven number nine?
When Manchester City have Erling Haaland on their books – and he already has four Premier League goals to his name – then whoever he is competing against will feel like levels below.
But Arsenal still scored 91 league goals last term to Manchester City’s 96, so Mikel Arteta and Co are doing something right.
Despite Havertz being told he would flop as he joined Arsenal, he still scored 13 Premier League goals and shut up a lot of critics.
But Gabby Agbonlahor still feels the German international needs a bonafide number nine to join the club and ‘fight’ him for a starting place.
Agbonlahor has urged the Gunners to knock on Ivan Toney‘s door before transfer deadline day and sign the Brentford hitman.
The former Aston Villa man feels that ‘top’ player could take Arsenal to the next level and possibly help them become champions of England again, as he told talkSPORT (27/08/24 at 8:50 am).
Ivan Toney and Kai Havertz
“I would like them to get a striker because, even the game against Aston Villa, I am looking at Havertz and I am like ‘you are a bit quiet here. You aren’t doing a lot’,” said Agbonlahor.
“He has games like that, yes, he will score goals. He’s very good in the air. But then I would look and see Haaland getting four goals already in two games. The goals that Haaland is scoring, you know the ball from de Bruyne at the weekend, that run he makes and that kind of finish. I don’t think Havertz has got what Haaland has got, so could that be the difference? Yes, last season, a similar amount of goals (both teams) scored.
“But if you added a top striker, could that take Arsenal to the next level? I think Ivan Toney, and I know he wants ridiculous wages and he is looking at Saudi, but having Toney, you and Havertz, fight it out. Fight it out! We have a lot of competitions to play in, show us which one of you deserves to play.”
Who will sign Ivan Toney?
The England international hasn’t featured for Brentford this season as he tries to sort out his future before Friday’s cut-off point.
Toney could move to Saudi Arabia, but Arsenal, Chelsea and Aston Villa have also been mentioned as possible destinations for the player.
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Brentford have to sell because their main asset will be out of contract in 12 months and he will end up leaving for nothing.
So, if a deal isn’t done and there are a few hours left until the window slams shut, then it will be interesting to see if Brentford lower their £50 million asking price for the penalty expert.
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