Ally McCoist says Arsenal should sign ‘remarkable’ striker over Dominic Solanke 

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Ally McCoist believes Arsenal should be targeting a move for Brentford striker Ivan Toney over Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke.

The Scottish football legend has been discussing Arsenal’s disappointing FA Cup exit at the hands of Liverpool yesterday and their need for a new striker.

The Gunners were made to rue wasted opportunities on Sunday as they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the Emirates Stadium. 

Their lack of cutting edge in the final third has cost them in recent weeks, with Mikel Arteta’s men suffering three defeats in their last four games.

It’s led to Arsenal slipping down to fourth in the Premier League table and exiting the FA Cup. Of course, Arteta’s men have been heavily linked with a move for a striker this month, with both Ivan Toney and Dominic Solanke of interest. 

Arteta admitted yesterday that snapping up a new striker may not be ‘realistic’ for Arsenal this month. 

But amid their recent woes in the final third, Ally McCoist believes they should be prioritising a move for Toney. 

McCoist says Arsenal should sign Toney over Solanke

Speaking on talkSPORT, McCoist admitted that he thinks Solanke should be second choice behind Toney for Arsenal this month.

“I think it’s a second option to Ivan Toney,” he said. “I’m not sure I’d be taking a chance right now on Solanke who has been in fantastic form recently.

“I’d like to see it for at least another season before I was overly convinced.”

Jeff Stelling then weighed in on the conversation and believes that Toney would be available for the right price this month.

“You know what Ally, everyone has a price,” the presenter said. “I’m telling you, Ivan Toney is for sale.

“He’s for sale right now, Brentford are a club who have based their entire being on buying players cheap and selling them when they’re at the peak of their powers.

“And goodness me, a couple of teams need a striker right now. If the right offer comes along, I think he’ll be on his way. I don’t think it’ll be Chelsea.”

Solanke is enjoying an exceptional season on the south coast, having netted 12 times in the Premier League.

Only Mohamed Salah and Erling Haaland have outscored the 26-year-old in the league this season.

Of course, Toney is yet to make an appearance for the Bees this season due to his nine-month ban after breaching FA gambling rules.

The 27-year-old has proven to be a ‘remarkable’ goalscorer during his spell in England’s top flight and bagged 20 league goals in 33 games last term.

But Toney certainly won’t come cheap, with Brentford reportedly demanding around £80 million to sell the striker this month.

It’s looking less and less likely that Arsenal will be able to sign a striker in January, particularly one of the quality of Toney.

Signing top-quality players in the winter transfer window is notoriously difficult and Arsenal may have to look at a stop-gap signing should they wish to bolster Arteta’s attack.