Theo Walcott, the former Arsenal forward, has recommended that the Gunners target Brentford striker Ivan Toney in the upcoming summer transfer window. This advice comes in the aftermath of Arsenal’s disappointing 1-0 defeat to Porto in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 encounter on Wednesday. The defeat highlighted Arsenal’s struggles in attack, as they failed to register a single shot on target at the Estadio do Dragao.
Walcott, who represented Arsenal for over a decade before departing for Southampton in 2018, believes that Toney’s presence could provide the necessary firepower for Mikel Arteta’s side. Toney, who has been in impressive form for Brentford, was reportedly valued at £80 million by his club during the January transfer window. However, Walcott remains convinced of the striker’s potential impact at Arsenal and suggests that his acquisition could address the team’s attacking deficiencies.
‘I am a big fan of a certain Brentford striker who I won’t name,’ Walcott told BBC Radio Five Live after Arsenal’s defeat to Porto.
‘It’s really quite obvious to see there with all the set pieces, Arsenal are a really big team, but if you’ve got someone like that in your team as well.
‘Missing [Gabriel] Jesus tonight as well who is a different sort of No.9, again, there’s no one else to call upon. Kai Havertz is not a striker, I think he’s done really well but I don’t think he’s a standard No.9.
‘That is something I feel that Edu and Mikel will be discussing in the summer, I’m pretty sure about that.
‘I know we’re talking about someone who is not at the club but you play different with certain players up front, I remember playing with [Olivier] Giroud up front I played differently.
‘Having a big man up front, the wingers would bounce it off him, [Bukayo] Saka and [Gabriel] Martinelli would have an absolute field day.’