Mikel Arteta 'doesn't have the personality' to work with 'big players' as fellow ex-Arsenal star takes fresh swipe at Gunners boss over recruitment policy

Former Gunners captain William Gallas has urged his old team to sign Napoli ace Osimhen, who is spending the season on loan at Galatasaray, in a bid to finally end their centre-forward issues. However, the Frenchman does not believe Arteta will be able to handle the Nigerian, something he claims managerial greats such as Sir Alex Ferguson, Arsene Wenger, and Jose Mourinho would be able to do.

When asked which striker Arsenal should sign, Gallas told Prime Casino: "I think Victor Osimhen would be the man I would try and sign. He’s been performing well for Galatasaray, obviously on loan from Napoli, and he’s only going to be there for a season. He’s a good player. Maybe not the player, but maybe he can score 20 a season. But if he doesn’t, he gives you movement, he gives space for the second forward to exploit and score goals. He takes the focus of defenders, so he could play with Kai Havertz or another striker. He will be a little bit more free and then he can score goals for the club. So that's why a striker like him would be good for Arsenal. I was talking about this many years ago. He was too good, I think, to go to Galatasaray. I'm still saying the same thing. I know the club’s fans are going to be on my back again. Is he too much of a big player for Arteta? Maybe Mikel Arteta doesn't have the personality to manage players like Osimhen or to deal with players with personality. Big managers like Klopp, Guardiola, Ancelotti, Mourinho and Ferguson. Even Arsene, he had the personality of being our friend, but he knew how to speak to players. You have to know how to speak to your players. It doesn't mean you're going to have arguments. You have to know how to deal with them, that’s all."

Arsenal have failed to sign a striker over the past two seasons, something that has come back to haunt them off the back of the injuries to forwards Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz this term. The Gunners look set to miss out on another Premier League title in 2024/25 and if they want to end their 21-year wait for that trophy, they may need a top striker.

Arsenal, who sit 15 points behind league leaders Liverpool, host Chelsea in their next Premier League game on Sunday.