Ex-Premier League Star Urges Arsenal To Target Ivan Toney Alternative

By The Editor
on 6th January 2024

Matt Holland thinks Dominic Solanke fits Arsenal…

Former Premier League midfielder Matt Holland feels Arsenal should target Bournemouth marksman Dominic Solanke instead of Ivan Toney with reports suggesting that the Brentford man is rated highly in north London, talkSPORT reports.

While any move for a striker will likely have to wait until the summer with the club wary of breaking FFP protocol, Toney is said to feature highly on the recruitment team’s list (via the Daily Mail).

Toney has been banned since May for breaching the FA’s betting rules and will have just a year remaining on his contract in the summer when a move for the 27-year-old seems likely.

However, for Holland, Solanke should be the priority for Mikel Arteta with the former Chelsea starlet enjoying the most productive season of his career.

Solanke has netted 12 times in the Premier League this season and is battling Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland for the Golden Boot this season. For context, our top scorer so far this term is Bukayo Saka with six goals.

“If I was Mikel Arteta and I was looking for someone now I might be looking at someone like Dominic Solanke,” the former Charlton man was quoted as saying.

“I think he fits them a little bit better.

“The style of play, the way he drops into midfield, the way he gets on the ball and his ability on the ball I think suits Arsenal a little bit more than Ivan Toney.

“Whether you can get him from Bournemouth and consider how much he costs, who knows – January is notoriously difficult to try and prise people away from other clubs.”

Solanke looks the part, but you’d be forgiven for being slightly suspicious about the season he’s having at the age of 26. While always being regarded as a bright footballer, the former Liverpool striker could never find the net regularly.

We’ve seen the likes of Dominic Calvert-Lewin and Danny Ings also have prolific campaigns in recent years though, sadly, that never became the norm.