Gallas Urges Arsenal to Replace Havertz with Osimhen to Win the Premier League
Former Arsenal defender William Gallas has called on the Gunners to make a bold move in the transfer market if they want to challenge for the Premier League title. Gallas believes the club should replace Kai Havertz with Nigerian striker Victor Osimhen, currently on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli.
Gallas Criticizes Havertz’s Impact
Gallas, who played for Arsenal from 2006 to 2010, has been vocal about his skepticism of Kai Havertz’s role in Arsenal’s title ambitions. While Havertz has improved since his controversial move from Chelsea in 2023, Gallas insists the German forward is not the world-class striker Arsenal needs to reach the top.
Speaking to Genting Casino, the Frenchman said, “Kai Havertz is a good player, but he’s not top-class. I’m sorry, but he’s nowhere near a world-class level. Arsenal need a player to replace him as a striker.”
Havertz has contributed 21 goals in 68 appearances since joining Arsenal, but his inconsistent form remains a concern. Despite scoring four goals in his first seven league games of the 2024-25 campaign, he has failed to score in his last four outings.
Gallas Advocates for Osimhen
Gallas sees Victor Osimhen as the perfect solution to Arsenal’s striking issues. The Nigerian striker, who gained widespread acclaim at Napoli, is currently playing for Galatasaray in Turkey. Despite his move to a less competitive league, Gallas believes Osimhen is still capable of performing at the highest level.
“I still don’t understand why Victor Osimhen is at Galatasaray,” Gallas remarked. “He needs to play in the Premier League and he can play at the top level at Arsenal. The club needs to wake up, it’s obvious and simple—they need a striker like Osimhen.”
Gallas also emphasized the importance of squad depth, highlighting Manchester City and Liverpool as examples of teams with competitive rosters. He argued that Arsenal must follow suit to sustain their performance throughout the season.
“You need a strong squad to compete with each other. That’s how Man City and Liverpool stay at such a high level,” he added.
Arsenal’s Current Campaign
Arsenal is currently fourth in the Premier League table, keeping pace with the league’s top contenders. Their next challenge is a Champions League group stage match against Sporting CP, where they will aim to solidify their position in Europe.
Mikel Arteta has shown faith in Havertz, but with Gallas urging a significant investment in Osimhen, the pressure is on the Arsenal manager to make strategic decisions in the upcoming transfer window. Whether Arsenal listens to Gallas’s advice remains to be seen, but the debate underscores the club’s ambitions to return to the pinnacle of English football.
As Arsenal prepares for their clash with Sporting CP, all eyes will be on Havertz to prove his critics wrong. Meanwhile, speculation about a potential move for Victor Osimhen is likely to fuel discussions among fans and pundits alike as the January transfer window approaches.