Nketiah scored a hat-trick just 10 days ago in the 5-0 drubbing of Sheffield United. But when Arsenal visited Newcastle on Saturday. Nketiah went into the match having failed to score in any of his previous 17 away matches in all competitions.
That run was extended at St James’ Park on another difficult evening for the newly-capped England international. Nketiah was unable to do what Mikel Arteta would demand from a striker away to a Champions League rival.
The 24-year-old was unable to make a positive impact in the Newcastle box, barely having a touch in that area of the pitch. He was also not holding the ball up as well as Arteta would want. And With Jesus’ sketchy injury record – he is currently missing with a hamstring problem – Arsenal need to recruit.
Brentford star Toney is reported to be the No 1 target, although the Bees won’t make it easy for their London rivals. They have slapped a price tag of £100million on the banned forward and want him to stay until the end of the season at least.
There is no wonder Brentford value him so highly – he has scored 35 goals in 66 Premier League appearances since their promotion to the top flight in 2022. Fifteen of those 35 have come away from home, showing he can do it at difficult venues.
Toney earned his first call-up to the England squad in September 2022. Declan Rice, now at Arsenal, compared him at the time to Three Lions skipper Kane.
Rice told talkSPORT: “He’s kind of like Harry Kane in a way where he’s not only an out-and-out striker, he’s a playmaker as well – his left and right footed passing, the way he picks out his teammates is a special technique to have. I’m looking forward to playing with him.”
Toney will have to prove himself at the highest level to maintain that comparison. But Nketiah’s deficiencies have proven again to Arsenal that Toney would be a major upgrade.
