02 November 2023 , 15:54
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Arsenal legend Ray Parlour believes his former side "definitely need another striker" if they are to win the Premier League this season.
Parlour, who helped Arsenal lift the title on three occasions, feels the Gunners need more options up front amid links with a January move for Brentford's Ivan Toney. Eddie Nketiah scored a hat-trick in their 5-0 thrashing of Sheffield United last weekend, but those goals were his first in two months.
And with Gabriel Jesus currently injured, Parlour is concerned about the lack of depth in Arsenal's frontline. "Eddie Nketiah has done really well for Arsenal, especially with that hat-trick against Sheffield United but Arsenal definitely need another striker," Parlour told bettingsites.co.uk.
"That’s nothing against Eddie, he’s been brilliant and has done a great job for Arsenal and I was really pleased for him to get that hat-trick, but Arsenal need more options. They haven’t got that right now and with Gabriel Jesus out injured that leaves them light in that department as well.
"It’s an area Mikel Arteta and Edu will be looking at. Whether the right player will be available in January we’ll have to see. I know Ivan Toney has been mentioned as an option given he’ll be able to play again by then, but he won’t have played for a while and it will take him five or so games to get back into the rhythm of playing every week, so it’s not that simple.
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"If Arsenal do bring someone in in January, Eddie will still be there, he’ll still play a massive part, as much as Jesus, but if you’ve got another option then that could make all the difference to Arsenal’s title challenge.
"We all know scoring goals wins you games so that’s why Arsenal will want to look into that in January if things are not going too well up front." Mirror Football understands Arsenal are interested in signing Toney once his ban for breaching the FA's betting rules is up in January and Parlour feels he would be a perfect fit.
Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has urged his former club to sign a new striker in January (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)"Despite his lack of game time, I’d still like to see Arsenal sign Ivan Toney in January," Parlour added. "He would be my pick. He works hard, he always wants the ball and holds the ball up well, he is always in the right positions and he scores goals.
"He knows the Premier League very well, he knows what to expect every week, so for me he would be the man for Arsenal. Whether it’s viable for Arsenal to put that money down in January, and whether Brentford want to sell him, we’ll have to wait and see.
"Brentford may want to hold out until the end of the season if they can’t bring in a replacement in January. But you don’t get many opportunities to win the league, so if you’re in a position in January where you’ve got a chance, then you’ve got to take that chance."