Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta opted against signing Ivan Toney because he didn’t feel the chemistry would be right with the group
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta did not sign England international striker Ivan Toney due to the fact he did not feel the chemistry would be right with the group, according to the Independent.
The former Newcastle United forward was a summer transfer target for the Gunners, but he joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli on deadline day, signing a four-year contract worth £403,000-a-week including bonuses – the equivalent of £800,000-a-week before tax in the UK.
Arsenal feel they are in a position where the core of the squad is strong, and any new signing just has to properly fit.
The Gunners no longer want to sign for the sake of it but want to continue to create a squad that is as finely honed as possible.
They believe doing so maximises performance and can see a team push their outer limits of performance, hence their reason for signing Raheem Sterling on loan from Chelsea.
Arsenal believe the 29-year-old can lift the mood at the club and Arteta thinks he is a leader with a good effect on teammates.
The cordiality and camaraderie between the Arsenal stars have been glaring over the last 48 months, and the North Londoners were not keen on disrupting it with just any signing.
Sterling already understands Arteta’s tactical approach due to their time together at Manchester City, and the former Liverpool star will be desperate to hit the ground running and prove himself all over again at his new club.
He could make his debut when they travel to face Tottenham Hotspur after the September international break, and his wealth of experience and trophy haul could come in handy as they look to go one better in the title race this season.
Arsenal have signed Sterling without paying a loan fee, and there is no option or obligation to buy him included in the deal.
They are also paying far less than 50 per cent of his £325,000 wages, with some close to the talks insisting it is as little as £100,000 a week, and they could not have got a better deal for a player of that calibre and experience.
