Arteta doesn’t want Toney at Arsenal and why Isak move was ditched

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is assessing the club’s forward options after Newcastle United made it known they would not consider any offers for Alexander Isak.

Journalist Miguel Delaney claimed in his ‘Reading the Game’ newsletter (August 2) that the Sweden international was the Gunners’s top target this summer.

However, they have quickly moved on despite Arteta seeing Isak’s qualities as specifically suited to what he wants at Arsenal.

Arteta briefly considered going for Brentford striker Ivan Toney again before the European Championship, but he does not meet all the requirements he wants in a striker.

Isak does, but the Magpies have no plans to sell him even though they made frantic efforts to meet the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability rules (PSR).

Newcastle have since sorted things out and will be holding on to the Swedish international beyond this summer.

Arsenal are now likely to go for a wide forward who can go central rather than sign an out-and-out striker, and they must move quickly with the transfer window closing at the end of this month.

They have sold Emile Smith Rowe to Fulham, while Eddie Nketiah could join Marseille if the Ligue 1 club can meet the Gunners’ demands.

Jesus is expected to remain with the club and has looked sharp in pre-season, while Germany international Kai Havertz will likely continue leading the line until further notice.