Victor Osimhen to Arsenal? Pires names the perfect forward for Arteta’s side

• Robert Pires compared Arsenal to his Invincibles era, insisting they lack a world-class striker and recommended Nigeria’s Osimhen to his ex-club
• Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray, remains a top target for multiple elite clubs across Europe
• With Liverpool and Man City boasting elite strikers, Pires insists Arsenal must follow suit to remain title contenders

Arsenal’s failure to claim the Premier League title since their iconic Invincibles season in 2003-04 has left many questioning what the club needs to finally end their long wait. According to former Arsenal star Robert Pires, the answer is simple, get a "real striker."

The Gunners have finished second to Manchester City in the past two seasons, falling short despite showing promise under Mikel Arteta. This season, they are six points behind leaders Liverpool, with a game in hand working against them. 

While they boast the joint-best defence in the league, their attack has been underwhelming, raising serious doubts about their ability to compete for the title.

With Bukayo Saka’s recent injury further exposing Arsenal’s attacking deficiencies, the need for a prolific striker has become even more pressing.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Pires urged Arsenal to sign a true goal-scorer, comparing the club’s current squad to his own playing days, when the team had Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, and Nwankwo Kanu to rely on,

“I think the criticism [of Arsenal’s frontline] is unfair, but football has changed. If Arsenal want to win big games, they need a real striker, just like Liverpool and Man City have. 

“We had Henry, Bergkamp, and Kanu, and scoring goals felt easy at times. Maybe this is the new football, but I still believe Arsenal need a true No.9.”

Pires further named Victor Osimhen as the ideal signing, stating that the Napoli striker, currently on loan at Galatasaray, has the right profile to thrive in Arsenal’s system,

“Osimhen would be perfect for Arsenal. His style suits players like Martinelli, Odegaard, Havertz, and Saka. If I could pick one player to bring in, it’d be Osimhen.”

Despite Jose Mourinho previously describing Osimhen as "world-class," a January move for the Nigerian forward never materialised. However, a summer transfer remains a possibility, with multiple top clubs reportedly eyeing him.

Arsenal have been linked with various strikers, with Fiorentina’s Moise Kean (16 goals in 26 games), Atalanta’s Mateo Retegui (19 in 29), and Spartak Moscow’s Manfred Ugalde (16 in 22) all rumoured to be options.

Meanwhile, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko has also been a target, though a January deal proved impossible. With Aston Villa’s Jhon Duran attracting interest from Al-Nassr, Arsenal’s search for a new frontman remains wide open.

Galatasaray joins race for Osimhen's signature, ready to bid €50 million

Previously, TheRadar reported that Galatasaray was preparing to shake up the January transfer window with a not-so-surprising move for Nigeria’s star forward Victor Osimhen. 

While Chelsea had long been linked with the 25-year-old striker, the Turkish champions are now looking to secure a permanent deal to keep Osimhen in Istanbul, a city where he has quickly won the hearts of fans.