Arsenal have suffered in front of goal in recent weeks.
The Gunners’ lack of cutting edge in the final third has been a huge problem for Mikel Arteta so far this season.
The North London outfit have netted just once in their last three outings, across all competitions, with that solitary strike arriving via Gabriel Martinelli at Stamford Bridge on Sunday afternoon.
In general, though, Martinelli has struggled to produce end product recently, whilst Gabriel Jesus has been in woeful form in front of goal, and after a bright start to the season, Kai Havertz has started to stutter too.
There is certainly room for a new goalscorer at the Emirates Stadium.
Mark Schwarzer stunned by Arsenal stance on Victor Osimhen
Arsenal were linked with many strikers over the course of the recent summer transfer window, with Victor Osimhen amongst those mooted targets.
The Nigerian forward was known to want to leave Napoli, and ultimately secured a loan switch to Galatasaray. He has since been in scintillating form for the Turkish club.
As far as former Middlesbrough goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is concerned, Arteta ought to seriously regret not making a concerted effort to sign Osimhen when he had the chance.
Speaking on The Optus Sport Football Podcast, Michael Bridges bemoaned the Gunners’ decision not to sign a striker in the summer.
The former Sunderland star said: “There were a lot more options, than not to go [and sign a striker]. So, there’s something fundamentally wrong there, if I was the fans, they’ve got every right to question why they didn’t go out and get a number nine.”
Schwarzer then stated: “The one player for me was Victor Osimhen… His numbers are crazy… He’s a monster. A proper, old school number nine, with flair, and pace, and eye for goal.”
Osimhen’s stats for Galatasaray so far this season certainly back up the Australian’s point.
| Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| 9 | 8 | 4 |
Will Mikel Arteta sign a striker?
Arsenal are known to be in the market for a forward. Arteta needs to make bringing a clinical finisher to the Emirates Stadium in the upcoming January transfer window his top priority.
Whilst Edu Gaspar’s recent resignation as Arsenal sporting director will certainly impact the club’s transfer plans and approach to negotiations, the Gunners cannot afford for any behind the scenes uncertainty to distract from their obligation to add quality to the playing squad.
A prolific goalscorer is what is needed to take this Arsenal team to the next level. Arteta now just needs to hope that he can make such an addition to his ranks before his side are out of the Premier League title race entirely this season.
Unfortunately, though, the chance to sign Osimhen, for now at least, appears to have passed Arsenal by.
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