Victor Osimhen to Arsenal: Benefits and risks for both club and player
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As Victor Osimhen's name becomes more interwoven with Arsenal in the transfer market, particularly in the wake of Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espírito Santo revealing that his club played to the Gunners’ strikerless deficiency, the importance of a possible transfer goes beyond simple squad reinforcement. For a classic powerhouse in the middle of a rebirth, the addition of this Nigerian forward can either be a historic catalyst or a pricey gamble.
Arteta's squad sorely needs a explosive striker who can unequivocally solve the "number nine dilemma" after barely losing out as runner-ups on the Premier League title in consecutive seasons (2023 and 2024) and now maybe 2025.
Thanks to his incredible 26 goals for Napoli in the 2022–23 season and his adaptability shown in high-intensity games, Osimhen is the most unique resource that best fits the Gunners' requirements.
But the intricacy of this possible transfer goes much beyond the surface since Arsenal signing Osimhen influences the club's financial structure, worldwide brand strategy, and the careful balance of power in the Premier League in addition to tactical fit on the competitive level.
This paper will explore the significant impact of this transaction on Arsenal and Osimhen from competitive, economic, cultural, and strategic angles, thereby exposing the difficult trade-offs and underlying risk games.
Why Arsenal signing Osimhen is a good move for the club
Since the end of the Henry era, Arsenal's striker position has always been veiled in the shadow of "unfinished business," and under Arteta, they have constantly faced the paradox of having one of the Premier League's most fluid midfield conduction systems but lacking the ultimate weapon to turn their dominance into a lethal strike.
Though Kai Havertz's adaptability and Gabriel Jesus' linking skills greatly help the club, their combined total of only 17 league goals in the 23–24 season has highlighted the Gunners' fatal weakness in the penalty area.
Although Havertz's pseudo-nine experiments and Jesus' smart positioning have definitely enhanced Arsenal's tactical dimension, perennial winners Manchester City have Haaland, who decides games and eventually titles with a simple tap-in or brutal header. The Gunners must react in the same effective manner.
Osimhen led Napoli to the championship with 26 Serie A goals born from precise finishing ability, explosive sprint speed, incredible jumping ability (record 2.58 meters vertical leap), and a cold-blooded nose for the penalty; thus, his arrival will totally change the situation at Arsenal.
These qualities not only enable him to transform Ødegaard's precise through balls into goals but, more significantly, turn Arsenal's possession advantage into real points.
The most perfect response to Haaland
Haaland and Manchester City's outstanding performances are ushering in a new era in the Premier League whereby all title contenders must rethink the worth of a centre forward. Arsenal needs its own "heavy artillery" if they are to stay up in this armaments struggle.
From a technical challenge to an epic personal duel, the possible clash between Osimhen and Haaland will heighten the Arsenal versus Manchester City encounter, which is now the league's fiercest rivalry and most-watched game.
This narrative tension not only improves the commercial value of the fixture to a level equivalent to the legendary El Clásico, but it could also see Osimhen shoulder the personal grudge the Arsenal squad has against Erling Haaland, thus igniting a forward rivalry that could take over from the waning Messi-Ronaldo feud and also change the club's brand image.
With Arteta's tactical board now possessing a forward with 25+ league goals in a single season, the Gunners' title challenge will have unprecedented credibility.
UCL game-changer, strong fit for Saka
Saka's and Osimhen's possible chemistry could unlock the ultimate form of Arsenal's attacking system.
The secret ingredient behind the Englishman's 14 assists last season lies in his ability to cut inside and create crossing space, which is exactly the offensive area where Osimhen thrives.
More crucially, Osimhen's aerial supremacy—with 33.3% of his goals last season in Serie A coming from headers—will totally activate the Gunners' highly praised corner proficiency and underutilised crossing resources.
For an Arsenal side desperate to return to the top of European football, Osimhen's big-match qualities have strategic importance.
His 19 key goals in Europe, some of which came against Barcelona, Chelsea, Tottenham, AC Milan and Ajax, show his ability to keep cool under intense pressure—a quality especially necessary for the Gunners, who have little Champions League experience.
When opponents particularly target passing lanes, a powerful striker who can break the deadlock with individual talent usually provides security on the route to qualification.
Commercially, Osimhen's appeal as the 2023 African Footballer of the Year cannot be understated; with Nigeria's 218 million population, where his impact is like that of a national hero, combined with his more than 8 million active followers on social media, Arsenal will have new growth prospects.
Why Arsenal signing Osimhen is a good move for the player
For Osimhen, Arsenal seems to be the "perfect step" for his career. The Gunners, having achieved a top-two Premier League finish for two straight seasons, have a clear path to the crown, unlike Manchester United's mid-table woes or Chelsea's rebuilding concerns. Joining such a team, Osimhen would walk straight onto the main stage for title contention rather than have to prove himself from the beginning.
More significantly, Osimhen would become a symbolic icon in Arsenal's post-Wenger restoration strategy, and if he could guide the team to break the title drought in the 2024–25 season, his historical significance would transcend Van Persie and even match Henry.
More crucially, Arsenal is Osimhen's best venue to directly engage in the Premier League's hottest story—challenging Haaland and Manchester City's hegemony. This "sniper" character positioning not only increases his commercial value, but it might also perhaps provide him a decisive increase in the Ballon d'Or vote.
Arsenal's 20-year Premier League title drought gives Osimhen the ideal screenplay to create his own legend with events that will make him a lifelong member of the team and see his commercial value massively rise.
With the Blues' championship DNA diluted for many years and the Red Devils presently buried in the mist of management changes, Chelsea or Manchester United cannot guarantee the rarity of such a historical opportunity at the moment. The Gunners are the only club of the three clearly on an upward trajectory.
Why Arsenal signing Osimhen could be a bad move for the club
Although Osimhen's on-field importance is indisputable, Arsenal's FFP (Financial Fair Play) space will be under pressure from the £63 million release clause and the £256,000 weekly pay, especially since the Gunners have never recruited a new player on such wages.
Given the team still has to improve the depth of the defensive midfield and full-back positions, this expenditure could create a "star dependency syndrome" in the team. This superstar policy will be a major test of the "team first" attitude Arsenal has painstakingly developed over years.
Osimhen has also manifested attitudes Mikel Arteta has desperately attempted to shape Arsenal against, such as criticising his national manager on a live stream and the TikTok conflict with Napoli.
Furthermore, London could provide even more distraction than Naples and Istanbul for a player known for his extravagant social media lifestyle.
Although it suggests more of the strong support in Nigeria than allegiance, Osimhen has been seen wearing the colours of London rivals Chelsea when still a youngster, which could be an irk for some supporters.
Arsenal could lose both Osimhen and Thomas Partey simultaneously in the Africa Cup of Nations in January 2025, therefore creating a disastrous void in the centre axis.
Why Arsenal signing Osimhen could be a bad move for the player
While Arsenal's possession-based style demands attackers to often drop back to engage in build-up play, Osimhen's success at Napoli was built on the tactical perks of "quick counterattacks + freedom to shoot."
This change may suppress his instincts, as, in Serie A, he averaged only 27.9 touches per game, while Jesus averaged almost double that (47.6 touches per game) in the Premier League during the same period.
Should Arteta fail to create a particular attacking plan for him, Osimhen could become like Nicolas Pépé, a brilliance limited by the system.
Summary: Is Osimhen to Arsenal a good or bad move?
Arsenal signing is a deal with strategic worth mixed with possible risk. From a competitive sense, the Nigerian forward's finishing power, aerial dominance, and big-game experience almost fit the Gunners to a tee.
Arsenal finished as Premier League runners-up (just 2 points behind City) last season, and this could be strongly attributed to a lack of efficiency in their attack, as Jesus and Havertz combined for just 17 league goals, while Osimhen's output of 15 goals in an apparently underwhelming season at Napoli would be sufficient to close this difference.
More crucially, Osimhen's presence would directly offset Manchester City's Haaland threat, thus exploding the "Stay Humble Derby" to an "English El Clásico," and increasing the club's commercial worth and worldwide impact.
Despite these advantages, his and Partey's absence from the Africa Cup of Nations (December to February 2025) could cost Arsenal the initiative in the title chase.
The biggest threat to this move, though, comes from Osimhen's fiery nature and history of outbursts in both Napoli and the Nigerian national team, which might destroy Arteta's careful phasing-off of big egos like Ozil and Aubameyang.
Osimhen also has to change from the position of "offensive core" to "system cog," since his average touches per game at Napoli are practically two times less than Jesus's. Such involvement increases calls for a concession in tactical discipline.
Arsenal provides Osimhen individually with the ideal starting point for his career to develop. Here, he won't have to deal with the "saviour" pressure (in contrast to Manchester United) nor run the danger of being strategically sidelined (in line with possible system disputes with Chelsea).
Arsenal for Osimhen is a "gold-plated opportunity" in his career that provides a championship-level platform (Premier League runner-up for the 2023–24 season), guaranteed UCL football, a consistent coaching team (Arteta extended his contract until 2027), and an era-defining face-off with Haaland in a kind of competition that not only boosts his Ballon d'Or competitiveness but also has the potential to replicate the cultural and commercial rivalry effect of Messi and Ronaldo.
While Arteta's painstaking attention to technical details (such as enhancing Jesus's off-the-ball movement) could help him develop into a more complete modern striker, the creative mix of Ødegaard and Saka (who combined for 43 goals last season) could theoretically maximise his goal-scoring efficiency.
More importantly, Arsenal's steady surroundings—management trust, tactical coherence—will enable him to focus on his performance and escape the public spats in Naples.
But there are also risks: Osimhen can find himself like Pepe, a gifted player crushed by great expectations, if he cannot immediately adjust to the intensity of the Premier League.
Final verdict: The best possible move
Arsenal and Osimhen taken together more closely resemble a "wiser gamble" than a transfer to Chelsea or United.
The club will have to deal with an outspoken character and short-term financial pressure, but if it can use his goal-scoring ability to break the championship drought, the commercial returns will much outweigh the expenses, and the player will have a tactically appropriate and moderately pressured platform, helping to consolidate his superstar status on both the Premier League and Champions League stages.
But the mid-season absence from the Africa Cup of Nations and the possibility of a salary disparity call for the club to create a thorough B plan including loaning a backup forward and a locker room management system.
Arsenal and Osimhen will both benefit from this transfer if the tactical adaptation is effective and the financial risks are under control; Arsenal will have the final piece for their title challenge, and Osimhen will enter the ranks of elite clubs.