06 January 2024 , 16:01
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Ivan Toney scored a hat-trick for Brentford's B team as the striker sent a reminder to Arsenal over his threat in front of goal.
Toney has been sidelined for the past eight months due to a ban for illegal betting activity. He will be free to play when the Bees return to Premier League action against Nottingham Forest in a fortnight and has attracted transfer interest despite his lack of playing time.
The Gunners are thought to be leading the chase to sign the Englishman, with boss Mikel Arteta desperate to sign a new striker. Any concerns that Toney will need time to get back his match fitness have been put to bed by the striker though.
Toney started for Brentford B as they took on Southampton Under-23s at Wheatsheaf Park on Saturday morning. It took him just four minutes to open the scoring, sweeping in Kyreece Lisbie’s cross at the front post.
After Southampton equalised, Toney was on hand to restore his side's lead with a deft header from Ethan Brierley's free-kick. He completed his hat-trick 10 minutes after the break when he again rose highest to head in another cross from Brierley.
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Toney then rounded off his perfect day by squaring the ball to Iwan Morgan to fire in just past the hour mark. Ashley Hay then wrapped up the scoring to ensure it was a dominant win for the Bees.
Toney's brilliant scoring display comes after former Premier League winner Chris Sutton raised doubts over his fitness. Sutton believes Arsenal should shun a move for the Brentford star in favour of alternative targets due to his time out of the game.
HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Arsenal pursue a move for Ivan Toney? Comment below.
Chris Sutton had raised concerns over Toney's fitness as Arsenal eye a move for the striker (Getty Images)"Brentford’s Ivan Toney has been linked for a while, but he has not played for months because of his suspension. He will have been training, but how much match sharpness does he have?" Sutton told BBC Sport.
"Arsenal are trying to win the title, so they haven't got time to wait for anyone to get up to speed. If we are looking at the names that are supposedly within their grasp, Bournemouth's Dominic Solanke stands out as the best candidate."
Arteta would certainly welcome reinforcements up-front, whether that is Toney or an alternative target. The Gunners boss admitted ahead of his side's FA Cup clash with Liverpool that their struggles to score is a concern.
“What they (the forwards) did last year was exceptional and we knew that to maintain those numbers would be extremely difficult because it was a one-off. Not just for us, a one-off in the league," Arteta said.
"We know that we need all the resources and all those kinds of goals to maintain the level that we want in the league. When it comes to those spaces, the timing and the definition of the action (in front of goal) that becomes trickier to coach.
"Certainly to replicate as an action in the game. It’s very tricky but it’s something that we have to improve, especially in the way we have not transformed recent chances into goals.”