Thierry Henry tips Julian Alvarez as ideal striker for Arsenal over Victor Osimhen

By Monsurah Olatunji

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has named Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez as his top choice to lead the Gunners’ attack, suggesting the Argentine forward would be a better fit than Nigeria’s Victor Osimhen, despite heavy transfer speculation linking the Napoli star to the Emirates.

Speaking on the latest episode of the Stick to Football podcast, Henry addressed Arsenal’s ongoing search for a prolific striker following another trophy-less season, and emphasized the importance of having a complete forward.

“If you look at all the teams recently that have been winning big things, more often than not, you can look at the front three and look at the team,” Henry said.

“One of my favorite nines out there at the moment is Julian Alvarez.”

Arsenal’s all-time leading scorer praised Alvarez’s versatility, endurance, and impact on big stages.

“He can hold the ball long. He played at the Olympic Games. He played the Copa America. He doesn’t say he’s tired—hopefully nothing bad happens to him—he’s played everything. And the way he plays it, I just like him,” Henry explained. “Is it possible? I don’t know.”

While the Gunners have been linked with several top forwards—including Osimhen, Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyokeres, and RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko—Henry’s endorsement of Alvarez points to a preference for a dynamic, hardworking attacker who can contribute across competitions.

Though a move for Alvarez may be difficult given his importance to Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City squad, Henry’s comments add a compelling twist to Arsenal’s summer transfer narrative as the club seeks to bolster its frontline ahead of the 2025/26 campaign.