Arsenal legend Emmanuel Petit has urged manager Mikel Arteta to strengthen the squad in the January transfer window by signing Victor Osimhen and Rafael Leao to boost their Premier League title chances.
The Gunners have come close to ending their 20-year title drought in recent seasons but fell short to Manchester City on both occasions. Petit believes reinforcements in attack could provide Arsenal with the firepower they need to finally clinch the title.
“I think Arsenal needs one or two more players, especially up front and maybe on the left flank to make rotations and to bring more qualities as well,” Petit told talkSPORT.
“They need a really, really good striker that can score goals because I really like Kai Havertz, sometimes [Gabriel] Jesus can do the job. But a typical striker that can score 20, 30 goals per season, this is exactly what Arsenal needs.”
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Former Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was the last player to score 20 or more league goals for the club in the 2019/20 season. Petit believes Napoli striker Osimhen and AC Milan winger Leao are ideal options to address the Gunners’ shortcomings in attack.
“I really like Osimhen,” Petit continued. “I think he’s on the radar of Paris Saint-Germain as well. I like Leao from AC Milan. They are different players, but they are performing well at their clubs.
“It’s quite difficult in transfer windows, especially in January, to bring in big names. But with the new format of the Champions League, who knows? Maybe something can be possible.”
Both players have proven themselves at the highest level. Osimhen scored 26 league goals in the 2022/23 season, leading Napoli to their first Serie A title in 33 years, while Leao was pivotal in AC Milan’s 2021 Scudetto-winning campaign.
Arsenal’s attack, led by Bukayo Saka and Kai Havertz, has lacked cutting edge at times this season. Saka, who has five goals and ten assists, remains their main source of creativity, while Gabriel Martinelli has struggled to replicate his 2022/23 form when he scored 15 goals.
Petit also praised Arsenal’s defensive solidity, particularly the partnership of Gabriel Magalhães and William Saliba.
Despite their strong backline, Arsenal sit third in the table, six points behind leaders Liverpool, who have surged to the top under new manager Arne Slot. Defending champions Manchester City, on a poor run of form, appear less dominant this season, giving Arteta’s side a golden opportunity to challenge for the title.
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