Mikel Arteta and Edu have a transfer philosophy that ensures Arsenal signed the perfect players for their plans this summer. The Gunners spent over £200million to sign Declan Rice, Jurrien Timber and Kai Havertz with David Raya later joining on loan to complete the summer window spree.

Three months into their respective spells, it's currently fair to say only Rice has justified his price tag and made a positive impression. Raya and Havertz have each shown glimpses of their quality but that has often been overshadowed by mistakes and struggles to impact games, respectively. Meanwhile, Jurrien Timber was extremely unfortunate to pick up a long-term injury in late August.

The absence of Timber has been something Arteta and co. have been able to recover from, however injury issues have consistently plagued the Gunners this season. Rice, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Leandro Trossard and Martin Odegaard are just a few names to have missed games already this season because of an injury.

Elsewhere, Thomas Partey and Gabriel Jesus have each faced a significant lay-off with two separate injury problems being suffered by both. Partey is unlikely to play again this year after undergoing a procedure while Jesus is set to make his return after a four-week absence for Brazil against Argentina next Wednesday.

Under Arteta, Jesus and Partey have been regular starters but their injury troubles appear to be forcing Arsenal to look into the market for new options. Ahead of the January transfer window, a striker being signed in the coming months appeared likely with Brentford's Ivan Toney as the obvious option.

According to a new report by The Sun, Toney is still undecided on where his future will be although there is perhaps a clear incentive to join Chelsea over Arsenal. Regarding transfer plans, signing a new midfielder was somewhat of a long-term aim for the Gunners, however Partey's big setback has seen it become a priority. Martin Zubimendi, Gabriel Moscardo and Kalvin Phillips have all been linked with winter switches to north London and this fresh transfer plan could certainly affect things with Toney.

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Regarding Rice, Raya, Havertz and Timber, it was made clear that Arsenal wanted them and only them leading to interest from Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Manchester City being snubbed by the four players. However, in this scenario that does not appear to be reflected regarding Toney and in selling the club to the 27-year-old there is a major issue.

Arsenal already have Eddie Nketiah and Jesus as their striker options and in the summer the problem of having three forwards competing for the same spot was highlighted by the returning Folarin Balogun. The Gunners ultimately made the decision to part ways with the Hale End graduate as he went on to return to Ligue 1 permanently by sealing a €40million (£34million) move to AS Monaco which includes a 17.5% sell-on clause, as football.london understands.

That problem being met again is likely something Arteta does not want to revisit regardless of Toney's clear differences to Jesus and Nketiah. Therefore, if he does decide to go all out for Toney, it will most likely impact Jesus and Nketiah, with the latter, as Arteta's clear second-choice striker, the player who may be forced to leave.

At Stamford Bridge that problem is not really in play with summer signing Nicolas Jackson somewhat forced into the limelight following the injury to Christopher Nkunku. At only 22, the Senegal international has plenty of time to develop into a top class striker and less pressure could certainly benefit him in the long run.

Toney also has the added incentive of playing with the likes of Raheem Sterling, Cole Palmer and Mykhailo Mudryk with the trio perfectly set up to service an attacker with his qualities. The Blues desperately need a vocal point to solve their goal-scoring woes and Toney, as a proven Premier League forward, appears the perfect option especially as minutes are almost guaranteed and the same perhaps can't be said across the capital.