Mikel Arteta didn’t want Arsenal to sign Ivan Toney because it was feared he’d disrupt the squad’s chemistry, it’s been claimed.
After coming up short to Manchester City for a second successive season, it seemed the Gunners were going to target an out-and-out striker in the summer transfer window. Kai Havertz hit a rich vein of form towards the end of the campaign.
But he’d also been utilised in midfield, while Gabriel Jesus managed just four Premier League goals. Entering the final year of his Brentford contract, Toney was certainly in the conversation as a target.
As the window progressed, it became increasingly apparent that a new frontman wasn’t on the agenda at the Emirates and Arteta’s summer funds were ultimately invested elsewhere, backing his current forward options to deliver.
According to The Independent, he went off Toney in particular as an option because he didn’t think he’d fit in with the group dynamic. Part of his turnaround of the club has been instilling a team-centric mentality, working as a unit to achieve their title aspirations.
He wasn’t convinced the England international would be pulling in that same direction. That sentiment is one that was previously shared by Arsenal insider Teamnewsandtix earlier this year.
Speaking to Charles Watts in June, he said of the club hierarchy’s thoughts on Toney: “They don’t like him. They met him and didn’t like him.
Kai Havertz has impressed up top for Arsenal, scoring in both their home Premier League games so far against Wolves and Brighton (
“When he signed with his agency in August last year, they said ‘what do you want,’ he said ‘get back playing, get back in the England squad and move to a big club, preferably Arsenal’. He saw himself fitting in as the No. 9.
“He thought he would get tons of goals and he thought he’d suit the system. They met him and they purely didn’t like him. With Toney, there’s just stacks of evidence of a personality that you’d imagine Arteta didn’t want around the squad.”
After failing to find his desired move to a top six Premier League side, Toney signed for Saudi Pro League side Al-Ahli on deadline day.exclusively revealed he’ll earn £403,000 a week – the equivalent of £800,000 pre-tax in the UK.
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