Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has questioned why the Gunners have not pursued either Alexander Isak or Victor Osimhen this January.

Arsenal recently made a £60 million bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins, which Villa promptly rejected. Petit argued that Mikel Arteta’s side should have focused on signing Isak or Osimhen instead of Watkins.

Arsenal has struggled with finishing in the final third, leading to links with several strikers. Petit described the bid for Watkins as a “panic buy,” suggesting that with the January window closing, the club had to act quickly.

Speaking to Metro, Petit said, “The potential signing of Ollie Watkins feels like a bit of a panic buy. He wasn’t the first-choice target, but with the window winding down, they’ve had to make a move.”

He continued, “I’m fairly certain Arsenal would have preferred another striker. That said, I do like Watkins as a player—he’s competitive, eager to score goals and provide assists, and brings energy to the attack. He would add a physical presence to the forward line and offers something different with his pace.”

However, Petit believes there were better options than Watkins. “Alexander Isak has everything Arsenal would need in a striker. I think Victor Osimhen would also have been a target, though perhaps his personality and character might have been a concern for Arsenal.”