Arsenal handed Ivan Toney ultimatum as star scores on dazzling Brentford return
Ivan Toney made a remarkable comeback to English football by scoring an impressive free-kick goal against Nottingham Forest last Saturday.
Despite being away from the game for an extended period due to an eight-month suspension for violating the FA’s betting regulations, Toney showed no signs of rust and appeared as if he had never been absent.
Days prior to his comeback, Ivan Toney had interviews with the Daily Mirror and Sky Sports, expressing his determination to make a strong start for the Bees.
True to his words, he wasted no time in making an impact. Within 19 minutes of the match, he found the back of the net by skillfully bending a close-range free-kick around the wall.
This came after a daring volley attempt by Danilo that momentarily threatened to overshadow Toney’s return celebration.
Forest captain Ryan Yates was observed shouting at Matt Turner, indicating that there was space for Toney to navigate the ball past the wall.
However, the necessary adjustments weren’t executed, and as a result, the Englishman successfully guided the ball into the net, prompting a jubilant celebration.
The forward experienced a memorable moment, commemorating it by raising a shirt with the message “For you Uncle Brian” on the back.
In the 3-2 victory for Brentford, Toney showcased sharp skills, demonstrating he has quickly readjusted to the demands of England’s top football tier.
This impressive performance is likely to heighten Arsenal’s interest, as they urgently seek a proficient striker. However, the Gunners are aware that negotiating a deal may be challenging given their limited leverage.
Brentford is seeking a fee around £100 million if they are to release him in January, a sum that might be challenging for Arsenal to accept at this point in the season.
The more probable scenario is that a deal will be negotiated in the summer, but this timeline could pose a challenge for Arsenal, currently lagging behind in the title race.
Arsenal faces the dilemma of either waiting until the summer, when their transfer budget is replenished, to pursue Toney, or opting for a more economical choice in the winter transfer window.
Serhou Guirassy, who has been in excellent form for Stuttgart with 17 goals in 14 Bundesliga games, comes with a £15.2 million release clause in his contract. However, the decision must be carefully weighed, as Guirassy may not be content with playing a secondary role to Toney.
Arsenal handed Ivan Toney ultimatum as star scores on dazzling Brentford return