After losing to Fulham, Arsenal has been ordered to finalize a “simple” £100 million transfer this month.
The Gunners went ahead through Bukayo Saka after five minutes, but ultimately lost 2-1 at Craven Cottage.
But a combination of inept defending and a lack of creativity on the other end proved costly for Mikel Arteta’s team, as Bobby De Cordova-Reid scored the game-winning goal for Fulham on minute sixty after pinball inside the area from a corner.
Arsenal now trails Premier League leaders Liverpool by two points as a result of the outcome; if the Reds win their remaining match against Newcastle on New Year’s Day, that deficit will increase to five points.
The play of Arteta’s center forwards, Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah, who have combined for just eight goals this season, will be a big problem.
Victor Osimhen of Napoli, Victor Boniface of Bayer Leverkusen, and Lautaro Martinez of Inter Milan are the three strikers on the Gunners’ shortlist for this month, per CBS Sports.
However, Paul Merson, a Gunners legend, has urged his former team to sign Brentford’s £100 million-rated Ivan Toney instead.
Merson cried out on X (Twitter): “Toney needs to be acquired by Arsenal, straight forward!
“It [the Premier League title race] is not over yet.”
Toney’s ban from competitive football is currently in effect due to his violation of the Football Association’s betting regulations, but it ends on January 17.
The next Premier League game for Arsenal is on January 20 at the Emirates Stadium against Crystal Palace. If he signs, he could be available to play in that match, though it’s unclear if he would be considered match fit.
