Arsenal transfer plans rocked as club warned to be ‘cautious’ with £100m risk signing | Football | Sport

Arsenal icon Theo Walcott has warned his former club to remain « cautious » about making a move for Ivan Toney in the January transfer window due to the Brentford hotshot’s inactivity. Toney has not featured for the Bees since a 1-0 defeat to Liverpool in May after being handed an eight-month ban for breaching the Football Association’s betting rules.

Toney cannot play again until January 17, three days before Brentford host Nottingham Forest in the Premier League. But he may not be available for that game for entirely different reasons.

The Englishman has been heavily linked with a switch to the Emirates Stadium in the New Year as Arsenal continue their search for a new centre forward. Toney is said to be among the Gunners’ top winter targets amid concerns of a lack of goals up top.

Arsenal could have done with an out-and-out goalscorer like Toney on Saturday afternoon as they drew 1-1 with Liverpool. Despite a bright start, the north Londoners were unable to finish off their chances prompting Walcott to call for activity in the upcoming transfer window.

« They were very resilient. You’d be happy taking a point from Anfield with their previous history. I am aware of the attacking player that Arsenal are slightly lacking that is going to get you more goals, » said Walcott on Sky Sports. 

« [Bukayo] Saka and [Gabriel] Martinelli are getting goals from the wide positions, they just need that striker who is going to be a poacher – they are just slightly missing out on that. »

When pressed upon whether Arsenal need to sign a striker in January, Walcott replied: « I just feel like Mikel (Arteta) will deep down know what he needs, but we don’t want to dwell on it. »

Jamie Redknapp then interrupted: « Ivan Toney is the one everyone is talking about. » To which, Walcott replied: « I would be cautious of that because he hasn’t played. He’s a forward that is similar to Olivier Giroud which Arsenal used to have, which I was a big fan of.

« They are slightly missing something but defensively, they have been solid and have won titles with their defence alone – I just feel like they were better than last season. »