Toney returned from an eight-month ban in January and has been in good form in the Premier League. He struck 21 goals across all competitions last season and has four in 13 since his comeback.
Sky Germany go as far as saying that Brentford will demand no more than £40m. That could be a good deal for Arsenal, whose lack of a natural and prolific No.
9 has hindered them from going clear at the top of the Premier League this season. Former midfielder Petit believes that Toney would score as many goals as City’s Haaland in Arsenal’s team.
Erling Haaland has scored 82 goals since joining Man City in the summer of 2022. The Frenchman also believes Athletic Bilbao’s Nico Williams could also produce similar numbers for Arsenal, despite the fact that the winger has only scored three La Liga goals this term.
“I think Williams or someone like Ivan Toney could replicate that output,” Petit told Genting Casino. “Toney has a great relationship with Bryan Mbeumo, understanding the timing and movements of your teammates is something important for Arsenal.”
Petit says he is a big fan of Williams, who he believes could be converted into center-forward.
Williams’s brother, Inaki, is a striker for the same Athletic team and has scored nine goals this term. “I really like Nico Williams and [he] could play up front for Arsenal,” Petit continued.
“He’s very fast, can be an independent goalscorer and combines with teammates. Arsenal need a 20-goals-per-season striker, they currently have a few players who can score 10-15 goals per season, like how Man City used to be.
Pep Guardiola changed the system because he knew he needed a striker who could score lots of goals. “In Erling Haaland’s first season, he broke goal-scoring records and won the Champions League.
Mikel Arteta will follow the steps of Guardiola, the way their teams play and a striker would be a cherry on top of the cake.”