With the January transfer window officially open, the football world is abuzz with speculation and activity as teams prepare for potential player arrivals and departures. Dominic Solanke’s recent impressive form has reportedly attracted the interest of both Tottenham and Arsenal. Additionally, ongoing rumours suggest that Arsenal is eyeing Brentford forward Ivan Toney.
On the other side of West London, Chelsea’s Cole Palmer has emerged as a standout performer in a season that has otherwise been somewhat lacklustre for the Blues. We had the opportunity to sit down with John Barnes to delve into the current state of affairs in the Premier League.
In this article:
- How is Palmer’s form helping the Chelsea team questions Barnes
- Barnes makes Chelsea top-four claim
- Is Toney better suited to Arsenal than Solanke?
- Solanke isn’t the answer to Arsenal’s problems
How Is Palmer’s Form Helping The Chelsea Team Questions Barnes
Cole Palmer’s exceptional form at Chelsea has undoubtedly been a bright spot in an otherwise challenging season for the club. Since his £42 million transfer from Manchester City in the summer, Palmer has notched eight goals and provided six assists for Chelsea. His performances have made him the standout signing under manager Mauricio Pochettino, and his impact on the team has been undeniable.
However, John Barnes believes that despite Palmer’s excellent form, there is still room for improvement. Barnes suggests that Palmer needs to do more to help restore balance to the Chelsea side. This indicates that while Palmer has been a key player, there may be areas of his game or aspects of Chelsea’s play that could benefit from further development.
“Palmer is playing in a team that’s not in the top six right now so how well is he really playing? It’s not about how well Palmer is doing. It’s about getting the balance of the Chelsea team right.
“He may be doing well individually but how is that helping the team’s situation?”
Barnes Makes Chelsea Top-Four Claim
Cole Palmer’s recent display of skill and composure in Chelsea’s 3-2 victory over Luton showcased his talent, particularly in his second goal, where he deftly executed a sole roll past the Luton goalkeeper before taking an additional touch to evade an incoming defender and slotting Chelsea’s third goal.
However, John Barnes contends that Palmer’s exceptional ability may not be fully harnessed by Chelsea, given their current low position in the league standings. This suggests that while Palmer’s individual performances have been noteworthy, Chelsea’s overall position in the league might require more collective efforts and improvements to achieve their goals.
“We can see how good a player he is and you can see how skillful and intelligent he is as an individual but what’s the point of Palmer playing well if Chelsea are going to be eighth or ninth.
“Palmer needs to play a part in making Chelsea a balanced team. He’s doing very well but that’s not helping Chelsea at all. They need to be in the top four. It’s where Chelsea should be.”
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Is Toney Better Suited To Arsenal Than Solanke?
Gabriel Jesus has scored only three Premier League goals this season for Arsenal, while Eddie Nketiah has netted five, with three of those goals coming in a single game. Arsenal have faced challenges in finding the back of the net and are reportedly considering moves for Ivan Toney or Dominic Solanke. The question arises: which of these two strikers would be a more suitable match for Arsenal’s current requirements?
“Ivan Toney would be better suited to Arsenal’s needs than Dominic Solanke. Ivan Toney is more of a pure centre forward than Solanke is.
“Furthermore, signing Toney now having just come back from a long term suspension, and not trained with the Arsenal team may not work.
“January for me is not ideal to be making signings.”
Solanke Isn’t The Answer To Arsenal’s Problems
In the absence of Brentford’s Ivan Toney, the impressive performances of Bournemouth’s Dominic Solanke have reportedly piqued the interest of both Tottenham and Arsenal. This season, only Manchester City’s Erling Haaland has managed to outscore Solanke, as he has amassed 12 goals and counting, contributing significantly to Bournemouth’s stability.
However, with Ivan Toney’s impending return from suspension, could he be the target for a potential move to Arsenal.
“Solanke is scoring goals now but he’s not a centre forward that’s going to score 30 goals a season. He’s not that type of player. He works hard, gets wide, chips in with goals but if you’re saying Arsenal need a penalty area number nine then that’s Ivan Toney.
“Solanke is not a forward in the classical sense to solve Arsenal’s problems.”
