Emmanuel Petit is certain that Arsenal can win the Premier League this year if they are able to sabotage Chelsea’s attempt to get Ivan Toney.
With victories against Wolves and Aston Villa to begin the new season, the Gunners have had a flawless start, suggesting that the hangover from their close call in the previous campaign is minimal.
Arsenal, which finished second in the previous two seasons, is once again expected to do well, but they have been unexpectedly thrifty in the transfer market this summer.
With just two days left in the window, Mikel Arteta has not added anything to his attack, while Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino have strengthened their midfield and defensive options.
The likes of Eddie Nketiah, Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe have all been deemed surplus to requirements but replacements don’t appear to be in the pipeline.
London rivals Chelsea, meanwhile, have been typically busy this summer and have armed Enzo Maresca with an array of new options.
The Blues are likely to be spending right up until the deadline with a centre forward a priority.
Chelsea are in talks with both Victor Osimhen and Ivan Toney but Petit feels it is Arsenal who should be exploring a move for the Brentford star.
Toney hasn’t featured for the Bees this season with his future still unresolved and Petit is confident the England international is the missing piece in Arteta’s Arsenal jigsaw.
‘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,’ Petit told Gamblingzone.
‘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.
‘I think Nico Williams or someone like Ivan Toney could replicate Haaland’s output at Arsenal.
‘Toney has a great relationship with Bryan Mbeumo, understanding the timing and movements of your teammates is something important for Arsenal and I think he could be the man that spearheads them to the title – a late move could do them wonders.’