Arsenal urged to forget Ivan Toney and revive transfer interest in Premier League rival

Arsenal have been told to end their interest in Ivan Toney and instead target Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins in order to land the Premier League title.

Toney, 27, has not played since May after pleading guilty to more than 260 FA betting breaches. But during his absence, the Brentford striker has been heavily linked with a move across London after openly admitting his admiration for Mikel Arteta's side. He will be eligible for selection again on January 17, coinciding with the next transfer window. But former Arsenal defender Mikel Silvestre believes a move for the one-cap England international represents an unnecessary risk.

Instead, he's urged the Gunners to go all out for Watkins, who has scored seven times for Villa in all competitions this season. And that's despite the 27-year-old this month signing a new five-year deal at Villa that runs until 2028. "The team always needs healthy competition and it needs quality," Silvestre told GGRecon. "So if Arsenal were to sign another striker in the near future, then it would be [Ollie] Watkins over [Ivan] Toney if the decision was up to me."

Bukayo Saka is the club's top scorer this season, having scored four times in the Premier League. But Silvestre, who spent two seasons in north London after moving from Manchester United in 2008, thinks more reinforcements are needed amid a packed fixture schedule.

"Right now you have Eddie Nketiah at the club alongside Gabriel Jesus, but signing a third striker could present them with a luxury that could be useful at this level," he added. "Especially when you consider the amount of games that Arsenal could potentially play this season." Since signing for Villa from Brentford, Watkins has struck 50 times in 129 games. And his winner for