Darren Bent says £50m striker would be a risky signing for Arsenal because of his attitude

Arsenal’s search for a striker remains one of the club’s most pressing concerns, and it seems the hunt for a new forward is unlikely to slow down anytime soon. The Gunners have long been in the market for a quality centre-forward, but as the January transfer window continues, Arsenal have yet to land the ideal candidate. While Gabriel Jesus has been sidelined for an extended period, leaving Arsenal with a gap in their attacking lineup, the club is eyeing potential replacements. In recent months, several names have emerged as targets for the North London club, including Victor Osimhen, Dusan Vlahovic, and Benjamin Sesko. However, former Premier League striker Darren Bent has cast doubt on some of these options, suggesting that signing certain players could be a risky move for the club. Speaking on the Inside Gooners podcast, Bent shared his thoughts on the strikers Arsenal have been linked with, particularly focusing on Osimhen.Osimhen, the Nigerian forward currently playing for Napoli, has been linked to a £50m move to Arsenal, but Bent believes that the striker’s potential arrival could come with significant risks. While Osimhen has been in exceptional form at Napoli, Bent questioned whether his attitude might pose a problem for Arsenal. According to Bent, although Osimhen’s talent is undeniable, there are concerns about whether he would be able to consistently deliver for the Gunners, particularly given his past controversies and attitude issues.Bent’s doubts extend beyond Osimhen. He also highlighted the potential risks associated with other high-profile targets, including Dusan Vlahovic, who turned down Arsenal in the past, and Benjamin Sesko, a promising young talent. “What’s his desire going to be to come back and actually come to the club and score goals?” Bent asked about Vlahovic, who has already rejected a move to Arsenal. As for Sesko, Bent expressed concerns about whether the young striker could adapt to the rigors of the Premier League and prove himself at the top level.Despite his reservations, Bent conceded that Arsenal’s current striker search is fraught with uncertainty. The club’s inability to land a high-quality striker in previous transfer windows has left them in a position where they have to consider a wide array of options. But Bent’s remarks underline the pressure on Arsenal to make the right decision in their pursuit of a new number nine. The stakes are high, and the risk of signing the wrong player could have serious consequences for the team’s ambitions.The question of whether Osimhen would be a good fit for Arsenal has sparked considerable debate among fans and pundits alike. While Bent raised concerns about the player’s temperament, it’s important to acknowledge that Osimhen’s career statistics speak for themselves. With 128 goals in 241 appearances, Osimhen has proven time and again that he knows how to find the back of the net. His goal-scoring record in Serie A, where he has consistently been one of the league’s top scorers, suggests that he could be an asset to any team, including Arsenal.Osimhen’s performances for Napoli have been nothing short of outstanding. He played a key role in helping the club secure their first Serie A title in over three decades, and his contributions to Napoli’s attacking play have earned him recognition as one of the top strikers in Europe. Despite the challenges he faced at Napoli in the summer, including a strained relationship with the club’s hierarchy, Osimhen’s talent remains undoubted.However, the concerns raised by Bent regarding Osimhen’s attitude cannot be entirely dismissed. There have been instances in the past where Osimhen’s relationship with Napoli’s management has been less than harmonious. His departure from the club was marred by public disputes, with the player and the club engaging in a series of tensions over contract negotiations and social media controversies. These incidents have raised questions about his professionalism and whether he could fit into a structured environment like that of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal.Arteta has built a team characterized by a strong work ethic, discipline, and team cohesion. The manager’s decision to offload players such as Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who was deemed a disruptive influence, shows that Arteta is not willing to tolerate any player who might upset the harmony within the squad. If Arsenal do decide to pursue Osimhen, they will have to carefully assess whether the striker’s potential to deliver on the pitch outweighs any potential off-field issues.Despite these concerns, Arsenal could do far worse than signing Osimhen. His track record in Italy speaks volumes about his ability to perform at the highest level, and he would bring a proven goal-scoring ability to a team that desperately needs it. Moreover, if Arteta and the club’s management believe that Osimhen’s attitude issues are manageable, then the risk may be worth taking. After all, the striker is still relatively young and has the potential to develop further under the guidance of Arteta.In contrast to Osimhen’s proven pedigree, the other names linked with Arsenal come with their own set of uncertainties. Vlahovic, for example, has already shown reluctance to join Arsenal in the past, which raises questions about his desire to play for the club. His decision to turn down a move to the Premier League could indicate a lack of ambition to take on the challenges of English football, leaving Arsenal to wonder if he would be fully committed if given another chance.Meanwhile, Sesko is a highly rated young talent with enormous potential, but he is still unproven in one of Europe’s top leagues. There are legitimate concerns about whether he would be able to adapt to the Premier League’s demands and whether he could deliver the same level of performance that he has shown in Austria and Slovenia. His youth and inexperience make him a riskier prospect compared to more established players like Osimhen.Ultimately, Arsenal’s need for a striker is urgent. With Gabriel Jesus sidelined for a significant period, the team cannot afford to take unnecessary risks when it comes to finding a reliable goal scorer. While Osimhen may have some off-field issues that need to be carefully considered, his goal-scoring ability makes him one of the few strikers in the world who can guarantee results. If Arteta and the club’s management are confident that they can manage any potential problems, Osimhen could prove to be the solution Arsenal have been searching for.The transfer window is now open, and with it, the pressure is mounting for Arsenal to act quickly. They have been linked with several high-profile forwards, but each comes with its own set of risks. Whether they pursue Osimhen, Vlahovic, or another target remains to be seen, but Arsenal’s pursuit of a new striker is a saga that will continue to dominate headlines in the coming weeks. For now, fans will be hoping that the club can secure a forward who can step into the shoes of Gabriel Jesus and lead the team to success in both domestic and European competitions.