Nketiah-NLD
To put into perspective the ways in which Toney could elevate the squad at the Emirates, the Englishman alone scored 20 goals in the league last term, five more than Arteta’s forwards combined.
While Jesus offers a magnitude of experience and a skill set to benefit Arsenal in ways beyond putting the ball in the net, Nketiah’s claim to the starting XI is less strong.
As highlighted in the table below, Toney offers far more of a goal-poaching presence than the 24-year-old, who has only scored 34 goals in 142 appearances for the Gunners over his senior career as a striker.
Nketiah vs Toney - 2022/23 Premier League season
Eddie Nketiah
Ivan Toney
Shots on target per game
0.5
1.3
Goal conversion %
10%
21%
Big chances created
2
12
Aerial's won per game
0.3
3.3
All figures via Sofascore
When you consider the great sides in the Premier League, a reliable striker is present, with little explanation needed to mention the strength that Manchester City’s Erling Haaland added to Pep Guardiola’s treble winners, having bagged 36 league goals last term.
By no means is Toney, or anyone, currently comparable to Haaland, yet City made it abundantly clear how introducing an upgrade on their goalscorer can widen the area for success.
ivan-toney-brentford
Arsenal received City’s second-choice forward in Jesus this summer, which alone highlights the difference in quality on show between the two sides that went head-to-head for the title last term.
As for Nketiah, there are still questions to be answered over his suitability to lead the line for a club as hungry for progression as Arsenal currently are, with the Englishman the obvious first point of rotation when revising the Gunners’ squad.
With Toney comes a potent figure in the final third, and a seasoned professional in the English game, getting him on board could be the missing piece to Arteta’s push for major silverware with his current crop of talent.
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