Alan Pardew has expressed his surprise that Arsenal didn’t secure a deal for Ivan Toney after holding talks about signing the striker.
Arsenal’s struggles in front of goal have hindered their progress this season. A notable miss from Kai Havertz during the third round of the FA Cup against Manchester United on January 12 cost the team a chance to win, as they lost on penalties.
The Gunners’ primary transfer targets, Viktor Gyökeres and Alexander Isak, now appear unlikely to join the club, forcing Arsenal to explore other options. Former Newcastle manager Alan Pardew shared insights into the situation, revealing that Arsenal had been linked to Ivan Toney last summer before his move to Al-Ahli.
Speaking on talkSPORT, Pardew said: “You’ve been linked with Jonathan David, the Lille striker. I’m not sure if he’s the right fit for you. Arsenal need a guaranteed top-quality striker, and I think Toney would have been perfect. I was really surprised he didn’t end up at Arsenal. I remember talking to his agent, and there was definitely some dialogue.”
With Gabriel Jesus sidelined by injury and Bukayo Saka also unavailable, Arsenal’s lack of depth in attacking positions has become a significant concern. Despite Manchester City underperforming and sitting sixth in the table, Arsenal have been unable to capitalize. Liverpool now lead the league, six points ahead with a game in hand, putting the Gunners’ title hopes in jeopardy.
Arsenal, aiming to end their 21-year wait for a Premier League title, must address their attacking issues. In response, they are reportedly considering a move for Bayern Munich’s Kingsley Coman. According to Mick Brown, Coman could provide much-needed pace and creativity, though he wouldn’t solve the problem of an underperforming center-forward position, currently occupied by Havertz.
Meanwhile, reports suggest that Arsenal is planning to “remove” the wages of a player earning £150,000 per week, signaling further adjustments to their squad.
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