Former Manchester City defender Micah Richards has suggested that Arsenal should avoid signing Ivan Toney. As a result of his suspension, Richards believes he may not be the same player as before, and that he will have trouble adjusting to Arsenal's demanding game.
Richards suggests signing Napoli striker Victor Osimhen as a possible solution to Arsenal's current scoring problems. The Gunners are reportedly interested in Brentford's Ivan Toney at this time.
Arsenal has been grappling with a lack of goals this season. Gabriel Jesus, one of their key players, has managed only three Premier League goals in 15 appearances. Eddie Nketiah, the second-choice striker, has scored five times in 19 league matches.
The north London club is currently trailing behind its competitors when it comes to netting goals. With just 37 goals scored in the 2023-24 campaign, they have the lowest tally among the top five Premier League clubs. Their recent form hasn't helped either; they've only managed two goals in their last three league games.
This slump in performance has seen Arsenal slip to fourth place on the leaderboard and fall five points behind leaders Liverpool.
In light of these challenges, Arsenal is reportedly considering signing Ivan Toney from Brentford who is nearing the end of his eight-month ban for breaching betting regulations. However, Micah Richards believes that Nigerian international Victor Osimhen would be a better fit for Emirates Stadium.
Former Manchester City captain, Micah Richards, said:
“Osimhen would be my one for Arsenal.”
Osimhen will be perfect solution to Arsenal’s goal-scoring woes
The record of Osimhen this season is impressive, as was his last season. Despite Napoli's poor form, which sees them sit in ninth place on the Serie A table - 20 points behind Inter Milan - he has scored seven goals and two assists from just 13 Serie A appearances.
However enticing an option Osimhen might be for Arsenal, there are financial considerations at play too. The transfer fee for securing him could reportedly reach up to £120 million - quite a hefty sum for the Gunners.
This comes after Arsenal's reported £105 million expenditure on Declan Rice in the summer. Given this recent high-profile signing, it seems unlikely that Mikel Arteta and his team would be willing to make another significant investment in January.
While Victor Osimhen could potentially provide a solution to Arsenal's goalscoring issues, financial constraints may limit their ability to secure him. It remains to be seen how the Gunners will navigate these challenges as they seek to improve their standing in the Premier League.
