Arsenal legend Robert Pires has urged his former side to sign a ‘real striker’, citing it as the key position they need to fix if they are to end their five-year major trophy drought.

The Gunners are fighting on three fronts for silverware this season, having been knocked out of the FA Cup third round by Manchester United earlier this month. 

They sit second in the Premier League, are virtually assured a place in the Champions League last 16 and are in a Carabao Cup semi-final – although they trail 2-0 to Newcastle going into the upcoming second leg.

This season it is Liverpool who are leading the way at the top of the table, with Arsenal their nearest challengers – albeit they are six points adrift and have played a game more.

And analysing the two squads as well as reigning champions City – who are fourth and 12 points off the top – Pires underlined the difference being the frontline abilities of their rivals compared to Arsenal.

Robert Pires has pointed at Arsenal’s striking options as the reason why they can’t win trophies

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has been unable to get the best of his forwards this term

Pires (right) has urged his former club to sign a ‘real striker’ to prevent their drought continuing

Sticking up for the north London outfit – who last won a major trophy via the FA Cup in 2020 – Pires, speaking exclusively to Mail Sport in Paris at a Playstation crossover concept event, said: ‘I think the criticism [of their frontline] is definitely unfair. I don’t like to compare different times but I was a lucky man as I played with great players.

‘Today football has changed a little bit but if we analyse the current Arsenal players then the quality is there. In my opinion, Arsenal need a real striker because if they want to win some games they need this like Liverpool and Man City have. 

‘Of course, I respect a lot the decisions of Mikel Arteta and Arsenal a lot but in my time I used to play with Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Nwankwo Kanu so we had three real strikers so it was easy sometimes to score goals. But maybe this is the new football, so we have to adapt the philosophy.’

Mohamed Salah leads the Premier League race for 2024-25 Golden Boot with 19 goals for Liverpool so far with Manchester City’s Erling Haaland second on 18. Makeshift centre-forward Kai Havertz is Arsenal’s deadliest marksman with eight goals so far – highlighting the difference between the trio’s most clinical front men. 

And when pressed on who that ‘real striker’ should be to come to the Emirates, Pires was under no illusions. 

‘Victor Osimhen,’ the 51-year-old, who won four major honours at Arsenal and was part of their 2003-04 Invincibles side, said. ‘He has a good profile to play for Arsenal and the players such as Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, Havertz and Bukayo Saka. 

‘But I’m not the owner or manager – I’m just an Arsenal fan who will always support them. If we can bring in one player though it’d have to be Osimhen.’

Osimhen is enjoying a fine season on loan at Galatasaray from Napoli, having scored 12 goals in 15 Turkish Super Lig fixtures – including six in his last seven matches. Furthermore he has 16 strikes in 20 matches across all competitions for the Turkish giants to date. 

Pires was a key figure in the Gunners side that won trophies in the early noughties

Mohamed Salah (left) has 19 Premier League goals this season, while Erling Haaland has 18

By comparison, Arsenal’s makeshift centre-forward Kai Havertz has eight goals this campaign

Victor Osimhen is in terrific form on loan at Galatasaray – and is who Pires would love to sign

Pires was at a PlayStation crossover event of football and basketball joined by Tony Parker

The 51-year-old showcases his skills during the Champions League and NBA event in Paris

Pires spoke to Mail Sport in the French capital where he was at a Sony Interactive crossover event between the Champions League and the NBA on a specially-designed court to coincide with Paris Saint-Germain versus Manchester City and the NBA Global Games being played there between the Indiana Pacers and the San Antonio Spurs.

The France World Cup and European winner was joined by Paris Saint-German Women’s and England goalkeeper Mary Earps as well as French NBA legend Tony Parker.

Inspired by the PlayStation’s DualSense controller, the court’s shape featured the four iconic controller button symbols, allowing for a unique set-up of two football goals and two basketball hoops from which the aforementioned trio took part in a series of activities on.

‘Paris is a great location for PlayStation to combine two fantastic sports into one game,’ said Pires when asked about the event. 

‘We’re on a rooftop, we can play football, we can play basketball and you have an incredible view of the city and the Eiffel Tower, so it’s magic!

‘I love both sports but of course I am better at football. I enjoy playing basketball, but it was always with my friends just for fun, so today playing with Tony Parker, one of the greatest ever NBA players is incredible.’