Ask any Arsenal fan what area of the team desperately needs reinforcing, and most will say centre-forward.
The Gunners’ need for a prolific number nine was a big talking point in the summer transfer window and wholly defined the winter window.
Names were being linked with Mikel Arteta’s side left, right and centre, but even with the offensive injuries starting to pile up, the powers that be decided against bringing anyone in.
What makes it even worse is that it was only last year that the club lost an incredibly promising goalscorer, a player likened to Victor Osimhen.
Strikers Arsenal could sign in the summer
Before getting to the player in question, it’s worth looking at some of the centre-forwards Arsenal could sign or may want to sign in the summer.
The player who seems most likely to make his way to the Emirates is RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko, who was a target last summer and again in the winter but, according to reports, could finally be available at the end of this season for less than £58m.
The Slovenian international might be more raw than some of the other names touted for a move to North London, but he could be a future superstar.
For example, the 21-year-old “monster,” as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, has the physical attributes at an imposing 6 foot 5 and an encouraging enough goalscoring record to boot, as he’s put the ball in the back of the net 17 times and provided 5 assists in 35 games this season.
Suppose new Sporting Director Andrea Berta wants to go even bigger for his first window in the job. In that case, he may try to get Alexander Isak out of Newcastle United, as the Swede continues to be linked with the Gunners in recent months.
The former Real Sociedad star has been on fire this season and, in 32 games, has scored 22 goals and provided 5 assists, which works out to a sensational average of a goal involvement every 1.18 games.
While there are still other names Arsenal could go after in a few months, Osimhen has once again been linked with the team in recent weeks, and while he’s out in Turkey this season, he’s still managed to score 23 goals and provide 5 assists in 29 games for Galatasaray.
Frustratingly, the North Londoners lost one of their most exciting academy talents last year, who has been compared to the Nigerian international.
Arsenal's own Osimhen
This year has been the breakthrough campaign for Hale End stars Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who have established themselves as first-team regulars.
However, had Arsenal been able to keep hold of him, it could also have been the season that Chido Obi-Martin made a name for himself amid the severe injury crisis to the frontline.
Instead, despite the club’s best efforts, the 17-year-old centre-forward moved to fierce rivals Manchester United, and while it’s still early in his Red Devils career, he looks set to be a star.
We say this as the teenage sensation racked up an incredible tally of 32 goals and three assists in just 24 appearances, totalling 1616 minutes, for the Gunners’ youth sides last season.
That means the “homegrown Osimhen,” as academy expert Will Balsam dubbed him, averaged 1.45 goal involvements every game, or one every 46.05 games.
Appearances
24
Minutes
1616′
Goals
32
Assists
3
Goal Involvements per Match
1.45
Minutes per Goal Involvement
46.05′
This season, the youngster, whom analyst Ben Mattinson dubbed a “monster on the pitch”, has been a little less clinical but still has a brilliant haul of 12 goals and two assists in 15 appearances, which, combined with an already imposing height of 6 foot 2, more than justify the comparisons to the Nigerian superstar.
Ultimately, if Arsenal get the chance to sign Osimhen in the summer, they should take it, but we can’t help but imagine how dangerous Chido-Obi would’ve been in the team this season, particularly as he’s already earning first-team football for United.
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1 ByJack Salveson HolmesMar 13, 2025