Ivan Toney has played a significant role in Mikel Arteta’s efforts to elevate Arsenal to the status of serious contenders for the Premier League title.

Ivan Toney has expressed his intention to join Arsenal in the future, as he has made it evident in recent months that he does not see his long-term future with Brentford, who are Arsenal’s opponents in the Premier League on Saturday.

Mikel Arteta is focused on improving his club by implementing well-established transfer strategies, with Toney being a potential target as a prolific No.9 striker.

“Our summer plans are highly explicit,” he stated, recently. “They were completed early in the season, as we comprehended the potential outcomes, considered the contract situations of certain players, and identified areas of the team that could be enhanced.” This scenario remains unchanged.

Nevertheless, in addition to deliberations on exorbitant charges and Toney’s potential to elevate Arsenal to unprecedented heights, there is another factor to contemplate. Arsenal faced Brentford in an intense match in August 2021, where they were outmaneuvered by the recently promoted team. Brentford exhibited exceptional performance, while Arsenal’s evident vulnerabilities ultimately resulted in their loss.

Toney’s playful tweet – “Enjoyable informal football session with the male companions” – following the match served as inspiration for Arteta in the subsequent game against the Bees. In the Amazon documentary “All or Nothing” that focuses on Arsenal’s season, there is a scene where Arteta, the coach, is shown delivering his pre-match speech while a tweet from Toney is projected on a television screen.

“I have successfully retained it in my stomach for a duration of six months,” Arteta stated. “This is Toney’s tweet after the game we played against Brentford.”

“Are you aware of his actions? Are you familiar with his tweet?” ‘Enjoyed a casual game of football with my friends this afternoon’. Today, the match will be held at our residence, and just one team will be playing on the field. The team, instead of playing, seizes the ball and takes control of the game, demonstrating their determination to succeed. Let’s emerge victorious in this game. Let’s proceed with determination.