Victor Osimhen to Arsenal: 3 Gunners whose futures could change

Victor Osimhen’s possible move to Arsenal could affect the club’s attack that took manager Mikel Arteta millions to build, Afrik-Foot reports.

The Super Eagles striker is reportedly open to joining the Premier League champions, while Mikel Arteta is keen to add him to his squad. The Sun reports that Arsenal are exploring a deal, but Galatasaray president Dursun Ozbek has said Osimhen is not for sale.

Manchester United-linked Osimhen has scored 61 goals in 75 games for Galatasaray. He also scored seven goals in 10 Champions League games last season. Those numbers explain why Arsenal could see him as a player who can improve their attack.

But a move would create a difficult problem for Arteta. Arsenal already have several players who can play as the central striker.

Here are three players whose situations could change if Osimhen arrives.

Viktor Gyökeres: From first choice to transfer target?

Gyökeres could face the clearest threat. Arsenal signed the Sweden striker from Sporting last summer in a deal worth up to £64m. He was brought in as Arteta’s main long-term answer at centre-forward.

His first season was not as productive as his time in Portugal. Gyökeres scored 14 Premier League goals and added five goals in the Champions League. He also scored a penalty in Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final first leg against Atlético Madrid in April.

The timing of the Osimhen interest is important because Barcelona are also reportedly interested in Gyökeres.

The Sun says Barcelona could make a bid for the 28-year-old if they fail to sign Julián Alvarez. The Spanish club is reportedly preparing an offer for a player Arsenal value at about £80m.

An Osimhen deal could therefore change the situation quickly. Arsenal would have two high-level No. 9s. Gyökeres would need to accept a reduced role, or Arsenal could decide that selling him would make financial and sporting sense.

There is also a tactical question. Gyökeres gives Arsenal powerful runs behind defenders and a strong physical presence. Osimhen offers a similar threat but has a longer record of scoring at the highest level in European competition. Arteta would have to decide whether keeping both players is worth the cost and whether both can get enough minutes.

Gabriel Jesus: A move that could close his Arsenal chapter

Gabriel Jesus faces a different situation. The Sun reports that Arsenal are in negotiations with Napoli for the Brazil striker, who has fallen down Arteta’s attacking order. With no official Arsenal confirmation yet, Jesus could still decide to stay at Arsenal despite interest from Napoli.

If Jesus leaves, Osimhen’s arrival would make the decision easier to understand. Arsenal would have moved one senior forward out before bringing in another elite striker.

If Jesus stays, his path to regular starts becomes even harder. Jesus has experience that makes him useful beyond goals. He can play through the middle or from a wide position, press defenders and combine with Arsenal’s attacking midfielders.

Yet Arsenal’s squad is already crowded. The former Manchester City forward was not even included among the club’s first two strong XIs ahead of the new season. A move to Napoli would give Jesus the regular football he wants. Staying at Arsenal would mean fighting for minutes against Osimhen, Gyökeres and Havertz.

Kai Havertz: The player Osimhen could push back into a different role

Havertz may not face an immediate transfer problem. His bigger issue could be his position. The German has often given Arteta an alternative to a traditional striker. He can play as a central forward, drop into midfield and link with runners from the wings.

That flexibility helped Arsenal in important Champions League matches last season. Havertz scored the winner in the 90th minute of the quarter-final first leg against Sporting CP in Lisbon. He also started the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain and scored Arsenal’s goal in the sixth minute of the 1-1 draw. Paris later won on penalties.

Closer analysis of the final showed how Arteta used Havertz as a false nine instead of Gyökeres. That role allowed him to move away from the centre and create problems for the Paris defence.

There is another recent warning for the competition. Havertz scored Arsenal’s second goal in the 3-0 Community Shield win over Manchester City on 16 August. He headed in Christos Tzolis’ cross in the 28th minute. That performance makes it difficult to argue that Havertz has no place in Arteta’s plans.

Osimhen could instead change how often Havertz starts as the No. 9. Arteta could use the German behind Osimhen, move him into midfield in certain games or use him as a substitute when Arsenal need a different type of forward.

That could make Havertz less of a regular striker but more valuable as a flexible attacking player.

What an Osimhen deal would mean for Arsenal

Arsenal already have proof that Arteta can change his attacking plan according to the opponent.

Against Paris in the Champions League final, Havertz started through the middle. Against Atlético in the semi-final first leg, Gyökeres started and scored. In the Community Shield, Havertz scored while Gyökeres began on the bench.

Osimhen would add another option. His pace can threaten defenders who play high. His movement can create space for Bukayo Saka and other wide players. His aerial ability can also give Arsenal another route when opponents defend deep.

Arsenal also have a title to defend. Their Premier League campaign starts against Coventry City at the Emirates Stadium on Friday, while their Champions League campaign will again test the depth of Arteta’s attack.

If Arsenal can sign Osimhen, the main question will not only be how many goals he scores. It will be what Arteta does with Gyökeres, Jesus and Havertz. Their roles could change before Osimhen even plays his first game in north London.