Why Arsenal still need Victor Osimhen after thrashing Manchester City 3-0

Arsenal began the new season with a statement win, but their 3-0 victory over Manchester City in the Community Shield does not remove the need for Victor Osimhen, Afrik-Foot reports.

Mikel Arteta’s side looked ready for another title race at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Riccardo Calafiori scored after only 24 seconds, Kai Havertz headed in a second and captain Martin Ødegaard added the third early in the second half. Arsenal also kept a clean sheet, as the Gunners claimed their 18th Community Shield.

The result was impressive, the performance was inch-perfect and Arteta would be quietly confident that he has enough firepower to overcome all challenges again this season.

Arsenal look irresistible, but Osimhen would add another level

The Community Shield gave Arteta plenty to like. Calafiori struck almost before City had settled. Myles Lewis-Skelly supplied the assist on his first appearance in the competition. Havertz then attacked Christos Tzolis’ headed cross to make it 2-0. Ødegaard finished a quick move soon after half-time to put the result beyond doubt.

At the other end, Arsenal were just as sharp. Their defensive shape made it hard for City’s attackers to find space. David Raya made important saves when City did break through, while Arsenal’s defenders dealt well with the pressure. City had spells of possession, but Arsenal controlled the key moments and protected their lead.

That balance explains why Arsenal can still be rated as favourites to defend the Premier League title. They won the 2025/26 league with 85 points, seven ahead of Manchester City. They scored 71 goals and conceded only 27. Viktor Gyökeres scored 14 league goals, while Bukayo Saka added seven.

Arsenal have also added more attacking quality. Tzolis gave City problems from the left, while Eberechi Eze, Saka, Ødegaard and Havertz give Arteta several ways to create chances.

That means Arsenal do not need Osimhen to win the Premier League. They could still be the team to beat without him. But the Champions League is a different test.

The Champions League is where Osimhen could make the difference

Arsenal came painfully close last season. They reached the Champions League final in Budapest on 30 May after beating Atlético Madrid 2-1 on aggregate in the semi-finals. The final against Paris Saint-Germain finished 1-1 after extra time, before PSG won the penalty shoot-out 4-3.

Arsenal even scored first. Havertz put them ahead in the sixth minute. PSG equalised through Ousmane Dembélé’s penalty in the 65th minute.

That match explains why signing Osimhen still makes sense. Arsenal can control games. They can defend. They can create chances. What they need in the tightest European matches is another forward who can turn one opening into a goal.

Osimhen brings that threat. The Galatasaray striker scored twice against Bodø/Glimt, thrice against Ajax and also hit another past Liverpool in the Champions League. He later scored against Juventus in February to help Galatasaray reach the last 16. Galatasaray said that goal took him to 13 European goals for the club, making him their top-scoring foreign player in European competition at that point.

His European record also gives Arsenal a clear reason to keep pushing. Osimhen has 16 Champions League goals in the competition across his career, the most of any Nigerian in the competition.

That is the difference between needing a striker and wanting another striker. Arsenal already have enough to dominate many Premier League matches. Their 3-0 win over City proved that.

But last season showed how small the margin can be at the top of Europe. Arsenal reached the final, took the lead and stayed in the game until penalties. PSG had the quality to punish one mistake and then survive the rest of the contest.

Osimhen would give Arteta another way to win such matches. The Community Shield has made Arsenal’s title credentials stronger, not the case against Osimhen. If Arsenal sign the Nigeria international, they would add a powerful runner, a strong penalty-box finisher and a striker with proven Champions League experience to an attack that already has Saka, Ødegaard, Havertz, Gyökeres and Tzolis.

Arsenal can win the Premier League without him. To turn another near miss in Europe into the trophy, Osimhen could be the extra weapon Arteta needs.