YOU NEED TONEY THE TIGER, MIKEL
Buzzing Bees show Gunners are a long way from being title heavyweights
AFTER converting the third of three glorious chances that came his way, Ivan Toney was only interested in collecting a shirt from the bench and sending support to his absent team-mate Sergi Canos.
He was not interested in responding to the mild abuse from some home supporters.
The 26-year-old striker might have been tempted, feeling Arsenal fans overreacted to his infamous tweet on opening day of the 2021/22 season.
“Nice kickabout with the boys,” Toney posted after a 2-0 win over the Gunners.
Ahead of the reverse fixture, Mikel Arteta (right) used Toney’s mickeytaking to motivate his men.
The Arsenal manager said: “You know what he [Toney] did, you know his tweet? ‘Nice kickabout with the boys’. So, today they play in our house guys, and there is only one team on that f ****** pitch.” His rallying cry worked, Arsenal winning that game 2-1 and, then, after the Premier League leaders won at Brentford earlier this season, some of Arteta’s players poked fun at Toney. Well, it turns out Toney might just have had the last laugh. The striker’s equaliser could turn out to be a crucial moment in the title race.
For the second successive Saturday, Arsenal found an imposing physical challenge tough to cope with.
Last weekend’s defeat at Goodison Park, and this draw, will raise questions about their durability in a protracted title chase. Their shortcomings, such as a work rate that was not up to scratch here, will be analysed ahead of the meeting with Manchester City on Wednesday night.
But the priority should be to pay tribute to the job Thomas Frank and his players are doing.
In fact, in the context of current form, it could have been argued that Brentford would pose as difficult a challenge as the one City will bring.
If there is a Premier League manager who remains somewhat underrated, it is Frank.
Perhaps his quirkiness means he is not treated with the same sort of gravitas as some rivals, but he has done a towering job with Brentford.
Frank (below) is a counterattacking specialist, which is why he has enjoyed success against possession-hungry elite teams.
In the first half, the home side dominated the ball, the away side dominated the chance tally. But Rico Henry hooked a sitter towards the corner flag and Toney sent an equally glorious opportunity onto the meeting of post and crossbar.
It was a rare false moment from Toney, whose link-up play was outstanding all afternoon.
Toney – named in one England squad, but not given a kick – has FA betting charges hanging over him, but Gareth Southgate insists the prospect of those charges was not the reason for his omission from the World Cup party.
If Southgate picks on form alone, it is hard to think Toney will not be under serious consideration for the games in March. And he will be under the same serious consideration when the wealthy weigh up their striking options in the next window, even though he was guilty of squandering another presentable opening early in the second half.
Substitute
Leandro Trossard tapped in a brilliant assist from Bukayo Saka. But, on the balance of play, justice was served when Christian Norgaard presented Toney with a chance that he actually could not miss.
His 14th Premier League goal cemented his unpopularity in these parts.
But if Arsenal do go looking for a striker in the summer, at least they know one who would definitely fit the bill... like him for not.