‘It’s a myth’: Sky pundit says Arsenal simply shouldn’t sign PL star before deadline

Arsenal have done a bulk of their summer transfer business ahead of the window slamming shut on Friday.

You just wonder if Edu Gaspar has an ace up his sleeve and if the London club will add any more faces to their squad.

Arsenal have signed Mikel Merino and added fresh legs to their midfield, with the Spain international winning Euro 2024 in the summer.

Another top deal concluded by the club was Arsenal bringing in Riccardo Calafiori and he made his Premier League debut at Villa Park at the weekend.

But some are suggesting that the Premier League title chasers should sign a forward player and that much-talked-about number nine.

Kai Havertz is still dividing opinion, even though he scored 13 Premier League goals last term and supplied seven assists, and he already has a goal and an assist to his name this season.

But Ivan Toney has been long linked to Arsenal and has been tipped to make a transfer to the Emirates – he is out of contract at Brentford next summer.

Kris Boyd shut down talk of Arsenal needing a player like Toney and stated that it’s a ‘myth’ they need to bring in a number nine.

The former striker noted how the Gunners have performed in the final third last season and that they don’t need Toney, as he told Sky Sports News (28/08/24 at 10:10 am).

Arsenal don’t need Ivan Toney

“The Ivan Toney one looks like it’s going to happen,” said Boyd about Toney’s future. “Brentford have already done some business, but the last thing they want is two strikers out of the door. 

“100% (Arteta is relaxed about the forward area). I listen to everybody go on about Arsenal that they need to get a number nine. Manchester City have got one and everybody moans about him. He doesn’t do enough outside of the box. Manchester City scored five more Premier League goals than Arsenal last season. Five, with someone like Haaland. I know he missed a chunk of the season. 

“But this whole thing of Arsenal needing a number nine. It’s a myth. They score goals. Win games of football comfortably. I think Kai Havertz has matured into that role really well and the way he goes about his business suits the way Arsenal play. I can understand why Mikel Arteta is relaxed about the whole thing. Arsenal have been very good in the transfer market recently. All I keep hearing is Arsenal need a number nine. I don’t agree. I don’t think Arsenal need to go and spend a fortune to sign a striker.”

Kai Havertz deserves more respect

There was a lot of noise around Arsenal signing Havertz last summer because he arrived from London rivals Chelsea.

On top of that, he wasn’t exactly bang in form and Chelsea were in a world of mess – and, in truth, they still are, so it was understandable that people were questioning the German.

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But he has proven to be a top purchase and Arteta has got another transfer right.

Throughout his tenure as manager, Arteta has made big calls from booting out Mesut Ozil to changing his number-one goalkeeper, yet time and time again, he has been proven right.

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