Sol Campbell picks out the two players that Mikel Arteta should sign to help Gunners win title
Sol Campbell, a revered figure in Arsenal’s history, has pinpointed the pair of players he hopes to witness Gunners’ manager Mikel Arteta acquire during the upcoming January transfer window.
The former 73-time England international created a stir when he switched from Tottenham to Arsenal in 2001, ultimately securing two Premier League titles and three FA Cups during his tenure at Highbury.
Sol Campbell played a pivotal role in the remarkable achievement of remaining undefeated throughout the 2003/04 campaign. Almost two decades after that triumph, he is now providing guidance to Mikel Arteta on the steps needed to bring an end to Arsenal’s quest for a title.
Speaking to Mirror Football, he said: “In the end, they will have to decide by January, do they need a centre forward. 20 to 25 goals in the Premier League. You know, in those big, tight games. I think it will help them. Is it always easy to find the right centre forward? I think eventually if they get someone like that, the right centre forward to compliment the attack – you need them to be able to play to dislodge defences.”
Currently, Arsenal boasts Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah, and Kai Havertz as choices for the central forward position. However, Campbell went into further detail by identifying the two primary strikers whom he believes could make a significant impact.
Campbell added: “‘[Victor] Osimhen. But is he going to cost too much money? There’s Ivan [Toney]. I think they’re good [in other areas of the pitch]. Center forward is one thing they might need to look at and see the possibilities, see what’s out there, or wait until next season.
“But if the right person comes along, an out-and-out striker, that can unlock those tight games, knows what to do in those positions, and also keeps defence occupied to then free up other people, they should maybe look at it Christmas time – if not, definitely next season. The right person will offload the pressure on the team, I think.”
Osimhen, a striker who has been prominently featured in recent transfer discussions, has garnered interest from Arsenal and London rivals Chelsea.
The Nigerian forward played a key role in Napoli’s title-winning campaign last season, netting 26 goals in 32 appearances. Despite a productive start to the current season with six goals in eight outings, uncertainties surround his future.
In September, two controversial videos were posted on the club’s TikTok account, depicting Osimhen appealing for a penalty with sped-up audio and a caption reading ‘Gimme penalty please,’ followed by footage of him missing the spot-kick.
Another video, comparing Osimhen to a ‘coconut,’ circulated online and was subsequently deleted.
The Daily Mail reports a strained relationship between Osimhen and both the fans and the club, evident in his removal of all references to the club from his Instagram account.
In addition to the challenges he’s facing off the field, Osimhen has been sidelined with a hamstring injury since mid-October.
Napoli recently made a bold move by parting ways with Rudi Garcia and appointing Walter Mazzarri as the new coach.
It remains to be seen how this coaching change will impact Osimhen’s form and his relationship with the club, adding an extra layer of intrigue to his situation.
Toney has emerged as a prominent target for Arsenal, with influential figures such as Neil Warnock, Roy Keane, and Ian Wright all advocating for the club to pursue the striker.
The player demonstrated his goal-scoring prowess by netting 20 goals in 33 appearances for Brentford last season. Reports suggest that Arsenal, Chelsea, and former club Newcastle United have all expressed interest in acquiring Toney.
Following his suspension, the English striker is set to make a return in mid-January, and there’s anticipation that he could be the key figure to propel Arsenal towards a title.
Brentford values Toney at around £70 million, as per reports. Adding to the speculation, Toney himself fueled rumors of a potential move to Arsenal during his appearance on the Diary of a CEO podcast, where he expressed longstanding admiration for the club.
Sol Campbell picks out the two players that Mikel Arteta should sign to help Gunners win title
