Ex-Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit wants his former club to recruit Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and AC Milan’s Rafael Leao to bolster their attack.

Speaking to Casino Hawks (quotes via The Express), Petit said that the Gunners need to strengthen in forward areas if they are to compete for titles:

“My dream signings for Arsenal to win major silverware are Victor Osimhen and Rafael Leao. They need a striker like Osimhen, and Leao would be perfect in a rotation with Gabriel Martinelli, they need that competition.”

“I’ve said before that Arsenal don’t have the depth of other teams and that’s what they need to add. Those players would take Arsenal to the next level and make them a real threat in both the Premier League and Champions League under Mikel Arteta.”

Petit’s ‘dream signings’ will cost an arm and a leg

Osimhen is currently on loan at Galatasaray. He decided to join the Turkish side after a move to Chelsea collapsed at the end of the summer transfer window.

However, it is believed that the Nigerian international has a release clause in his contract with Napoli that means he can leave for €75m (£62.4m).

Rafael Leao’s buyout fee, though, is significantly higher. When he signed a new deal with Milan last year, it included a clause that meant a sale would only be sanctioned if a team pays €175m (£145.6m).

Arsenal still need to appoint a new transfer chief

While fans and pundits (like Petit) are already planning the club’s future signings, it should be pointed out that the Gunners will need to hire another sporting director first, following Edu’s departure.

Several names have been mentioned as potential candidates, including Per Mertesacker, Tomas Rosicky, Real Sociedad director Roberto Olabe and Paris Saint-Germain’s transfer advisor Luis Campos.

It will be hoped that an appointment is made ahead of the January window so that there is no disruption to Arsenal’s transfer business.

Find out who is in Arsenal’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here