January Transfer Window - The Verdict.

[Smithy]

That is the calibre of striker we will undoubtedly be searching for; securing him will be more difficult but not unattainable.

Osimhen is 100% unattainable.

Napoli paid €70m for him three years ago, and he's only got better since then. He plays for a team that could well win the league this year and is already certain to be in the champions league next season. The chances of him coming to us THIS summer, are somewhere between extremely slim, and none. 

We should maybe be looking for whoever qualifies as the current version of the 21-year-old that Napoli bought for €70m three seasons ago having just finished outside the European places - rather than today's Osimhen, who is almost certainly going to go for more than we got for Joe, and to a team with champions league football.

[Dave]

We should maybe be looking for whoever qualifies as the current version of the 21-year-old that Napoli bought for €70m three seasons ago having just finished outside the European places - rather than today's Osimhen, who is almost certainly going to go for more than we got for Joe, and to a team with champions league football.

Which is basically Jonathan David who Lille bought to replace him.

Moved from Belgium to Lille at the same age as Osimhen did, boasting a one-in-two scoring rate (as Osimhen did), which he then kept up at Lille (as Osimhen did).

Although he'd probably still be off to someone a bit shinier than the current version of us.

[Smithy]

We should maybe be looking for whoever qualifies as the current version of the 21-year-old that Napoli bought for €70m three seasons ago having just finished outside the European places - rather than today's Osimhen, who is almost certainly going to go for more than we got for Joe, and to a team with champions league football.

Which is basically Jonathan David who Lille bought to replace him.

Moved from Belgium to Lille at the same age as Osimhen did, boasting a one-in-two scoring rate (as Osimhen did), which he then kept up at Lille (as Osimhen did).

Although he'd probably still be off to someone a bit shinier than the current version of us.

Yes, he's precisely the sort we should be looking for. Unfortunately, the fact he's been at Lille for three years (unlike Osimhen who had one season there before his move) means we're likely to face more competition, including from teams in Europe, but I'd hope he's high on our shortlist.

[Footy-Vill]

As Napoli will win the league and have a strong chance of winning the Champions League, I admit Osimhen is a tough acquisition.
Now, Emery understands Emile Smith Rowe, and I can see Villa after him him even if Arsenal wins the league.
Because Arsenal will look to get in more established players for next season and ESR could be available.
Would be a great fit here and of course we were close to signing him previously.

[Drummond]

As Napoli will win the league and have a strong chance of winning the Champions League, I admit Osimhen is a tough acquisition.
Now, Emery understands Emile Smith Rowe, and I can see Villa after him him even if Arsenal wins the league.
Because Arsenal will look to get in more established players for next season and ESR could be available.
Would be a great fit here and of course we were close to signing him previously.

Whose place would he take?

[Risso]

As Napoli will win the league and have a strong chance of winning the Champions League, I admit Osimhen is a tough acquisition.
Now, Emery understands Emile Smith Rowe, and I can see Villa after him him even if Arsenal wins the league.
Because Arsenal will look to get in more established players for next season and ESR could be available.
Would be a great fit here and of course we were close to signing him previously.

Whose place would he take?

He could play in a number of spots, but he's another player who would improve us if he was playing instead of Bailey. I think Footy's right, he'd be a good acquisition. I don't think we were close to signing him, but we definitely interested though.

[Footy-Vill]

As Napoli will win the league and have a strong chance of winning the Champions League, I admit Osimhen is a tough acquisition.
Now, Emery understands Emile Smith Rowe, and I can see Villa after him him even if Arsenal wins the league.
Because Arsenal will look to get in more established players for next season and ESR could be available.
Would be a great fit here and of course we were close to signing him previously.

Whose place would he take?

The Buendia thing is the most out there I was willing to go. I just think he's someone that we could replace and make a decent amount on and he might be someone worth sacrificing. I'd say the same about Kibsa as well but I think he'll be around for another year.

He would compete with Buendía unless Paul E theory is correct he then would replace him.

[Footy-Vill]

As Napoli will win the league and have a strong chance of winning the Champions League, I admit Osimhen is a tough acquisition.
Now, Emery understands Emile Smith Rowe, and I can see Villa after him him even if Arsenal wins the league.
Because Arsenal will look to get in more established players for next season and ESR could be available.
Would be a great fit here and of course we were close to signing him previously.

Whose place would he take?

He could play in a number of spots, but he's another player who would improve us if he was playing instead of Bailey. I think Footy's right, he'd be a good acquisition. I don't think we were close to signing him, but we definitely interested though.

I just recall the bid after bid and thought Arsenal were going to buckle if made the right amount.

[Risso]

the bid after bid and thought Arsenal were going to buckle if made the right amount.

I seem to recall they were fairly adamant that he wasn't for sale under any circumstances. Certainly not for the amounts we offered, which were definitely a little bit on the Doug Ellis side.

[Monty]

Sorry, who in the fuck thought we'd sign Osimhen? Are we in the habit of spending £150m on a single player? Did I miss something.

[N'ZMAV]

Sorry, who in the fuck thought we'd sign Osimhen? Are we in the habit of spending £150m on a single player? Did I miss something.

you missed us qualifying for the champions league

[brontebilly]

Think we should show some faith in Watkins and give him a new deal personally. It's the supporting cast behind him that needs to improve.

[paul_e]

As Napoli will win the league and have a strong chance of winning the Champions League, I admit Osimhen is a tough acquisition.
Now, Emery understands Emile Smith Rowe, and I can see Villa after him him even if Arsenal wins the league.
Because Arsenal will look to get in more established players for next season and ESR could be available.
Would be a great fit here and of course we were close to signing him previously.

Whose place would he take?

He could play in a number of spots, but he's another player who would improve us if he was playing instead of Bailey. I think Footy's right, he'd be a good acquisition. I don't think we were close to signing him, but we definitely interested though.

Smith-Rowe would definitely be a realistic option, he's fallen behind Martinelli, Odegaard and now Trossard, Emery gave him his debut and he'd fit well in either the left side position that Ramsey has had recently or in the 2nd striker role that Bailey and Buendia seem to both struggle in. I get the impression (from his previous clubs) that Emery likes a lot of his players to be able to play in a few different roles.

Osimhen is definitely not realistic. David would be good (as he would've been last summer when a few on here were talking about him) but I think there are a few other options worth looking at as well. I don't watch anything like as much football now as I did a few years back but I've seen a few clips of a guy at Montpellier who looks very good called Elye Wahi. Supposedly available for under £20m and has bene linked with a few CL clubs so he'd be one we'd have to gamble on now but he looks worth the risk.

I'd be tempted to have a gamble on Gio Reyna as well. He hasn't progressed as much as people expected and as such isn't playing regularly for Dortmund but he's still only 20 so there's plenty of time for him and he'd probably not be that expensive.

[Rudy Can't Fail]

Think we should show some faith in Watkins and give him a new deal personally. It's the supporting cast behind him that needs to improve.

I hope he keeps scoring until the end of the season so we can shift him in the summer for a decent wedge. No time for sentiment or blind faith unless you're prepared to waste another 20-30 years wishful thinking midtable-7th to 10th is the dream. Top strikers don't come cheap but IF we could cash in we can seriously upgrade. Will we? I very much doubt it but we'll live to regret it next season.

[Dave]

Think we should show some faith in Watkins and give him a new deal personally. It's the supporting cast behind him that needs to improve.

I hope he keeps scoring until the end of the season so we can shift him in the summer for a decent wedge. No time for sentiment or blind faith unless you're prepared to waste another 20-30 years wishful thinking midtable-7th to 10th is the dream. Top strikers don't come cheap but IF we could cash in we can seriously upgrade. Will we? I very much doubt it but we'll live to regret it next season.

Why not seriously upgrade and keep a solid 10-12 goal a season striker as well?