Mikel Arteta told Gabriel Jesus is going to be upset if Arsenal secure the transfer of ‘talented player’

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A huge January transfer window awaits Mikel Arteta and Arsenal in their Premier League title push.

One constant name that has done the rounds is Brentford’s currently suspended hitman, Ivan Toney.

The 27-year-old is banned until January 16 and there is talk of Arsenal possibly securing his transfer, with Andy Townsend calling him a ‘talented player’, as he told talkSPORT Breakfast (20/12/23 at 8:35 am).

But the former Aston Villa captain thinks, if Ivan Toney joins, then the club’s current number nine, Gabriel Jesus, ‘isn’t going to be happy’ with the Englishman’s arrival.

Arsenal’s front three are Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus and Bukayo Saka. Whenever that trio are fit, they start every game.

So, if you bring in Ivan Toney, and that possibly for a huge sum of money, then he isn’t joining to sit on the bench, but to take the place of a regular starter.

And with the high chance that would be Gabriel Jesus, it’s probably something that wouldn’t sit right with him, according to Andy Townsend.

Ivan Toney to replace Gabriel Jesus?

“That’s a big call,” said Townsend about Arsenal signing Toney. “I do like him. I do think he’s a talented player. But is he the one who absolutely comes in and makes the difference?

“If Arteta does go and buy a striker, one that can go in, then he isn’t going to be happy, is he, Jesus?!

On players getting upset: “It didn’t bother Arteta with the goalkeepers, did it?!”

Will Ivan Toney be match-fit?

The England international can do as much training as he wants, you can only have match sharpness and be match-fit if you are out on the pitch.

And he hasn’t tasted the grass in months and months, so how quickly can he get up to speed? This isn’t a case of Toney arriving in the summer, but right in the middle of a battle.

If the ice-cool striker joins for big money and then struggles to start, it will hurt Arsenal pretty much straightaway because there is little room for mistakes.

So, when Arteta and Co. sit down to make their final calls for who they want in the January transfer window, it could prove to be the deciding factor in them winning the Premier League title or not.