From Higuaín to Osimhen: Should Arsenal risk another transfer regret or heed Darren Bent’s warning?

Arsenal's pursuit of Super Eagles forward, Victor Osimhen, has continued to heat up as Mikel Arteta's troops aim to sustain momentum in their English Premier League title challenge, Soccernet.ng reports.

It is no longer news that the Napoli-owned striker has been on the radar of several top European clubs, but Arsenal, according to some, might be making a risky move by going after him.

Former Tottenham striker Darren Bent recently weighed in on the situation, warning the Gunners that signing Osimhen might not be the guarantee they hope for.

Raising concerns over the Nigerian striker’s attitude, the former England international suggested that his pasts at Napoli and his saga with Finidi George, didn’t reflect a good mentality.

This, therefore, begs the question of whether Arsenal should risk another transfer regret or take the boldness to sign a player who could finally solve their long-standing striker issue.

Arsenal’s Higuaín Missed Opportunity

It would be recalled that the Emirates outfit failed to secure the signature of Gonzalo Higuaín in 2013. As at then, the Argentine forward, then at Real Madrid, was available for a reasonable price, but Arsenal baulked at the deal.

Higuaín went on to join Napoli, where he enjoyed a successful stint, while Arsenal, stuck with Olivier Giroud as their primary striker, never fully replaced the goals and quality they missed out on.

Fast forward to today, and the Gunners face a similar scenario. Osimhen, who has been in sensational form at Napoli, is one of Europe’s hottest forwards.

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Darren Bent’s Concerns

However, Bent’s warning about Osimhen’s attitude cannot be completely dismissed. The striker’s consistency in front of goal has been impressive, but there have been moments when questions about his attitude.

 

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A recent example includes his reaction to being substituted under the guidance of Luciano Spalletti when he was at Napoli. And his attitude towards his then-Super Eagles coach, Finidi, which garnered attention on social media.

“Victor Osimhen, is he really going to be the answer?” Darren Bent said on talkSPORT as quoted by Football Transfers. “Yes, he was good at Napoli, but maybe his attitude has been questioned on occasions, that’s still a risk.

“I just don’t think you can just go out there and guarantee, right, we know he’s the guy who’s going to go and score us 20, 25 goals.”

However, it’s important to look deeper into Osimhen’s overall record. His contribution to Napoli’s Serie A title-winning season proves his quality and he is now building on his impressive performance with the Turkish giants Galatasaray SK.

Under the right coaching system, particularly one like Mikel Arteta’s at Arsenal, it’s likely that Osimhen could thrive and overcome any minor mental lapses.