Arsenal find themselves atop the Premier League in December for the second year in a row.
The Gunners famously led the league for most of last season before being leapfrogged by eventual champions Manchester City towards the end of their campaign, and the club will be eager to not allow a similar situation to develop during the 2023/24 season.
With the January transfer window set to open soon, Arsenal have been linked to a number of high-profile players as they prepare to shore up their squad for the second half of the season.
One name that comes up often in reports is Brentford's Ivan Toney. The Gunners could use another forward, and a former Arsenal player believes Toney could be the key to pushing the North London side to the Premier League crown.
"I think he would be a perfect fit for Arsenal," Jermaine Pennant said to Genting Casino. "He is a real worker off the ball, he likes to run in behind and he can hold up the ball well.
"We all know his ability in front of the goal. Everyone has suggested that Ivan Toney could be the missing piece of the Arsenal puzzle and I do really believe that he is the guy that could win them win the title."
Pennant has high praise for the Brentford star, who is currently serving an eight-month suspension from football but will be able to return to the pitch in the new year. The 40-year-old former Arsenal, Birmingham and Liverpool man compared Toney to a Gunners legend and backs him to have the same kind of impact should he make the move to the Emirates.
"I think he could come into the club and become Arsenal’s modern version of Ian Wright," Pennant said. "He’s a brilliant player and I think he’s been performing well for the last three seasons.
"On goals alone, then only Harry Kane ranks higher than him in terms of English players over the last few seasons. That’s not bad company for Toney to keep.
"He’s a proven goal scorer in the Premier League with Brentford. Imagine the number of chances he would get playing for a team like Arsenal.
"I think Ivan Toney to Arsenal is a recipe for great success."