Benjamin Sesko could be the right call for Arsenal ahead of Viktor Gyokeres as the search for a new striker rages on.

As the 2023/24 season ended, Arsenal scored a club-record 91 goals in the season, beating their tally of 88 from the previous campaign, which was also a record. The fact that the team was a functional unit, winning 18 of their last 20 games in the season probably masked the need for a new striker.

Kai Havertz probably gave Mikel Arteta a blueprint of the striker he needs, and one who can be more clinical and prolific at the same time. The fact that Arsenal pursued Benjamin Sesko last summer signalled their intent with the Slovenian then, only for him to stay at RB Leipzig and continue his stellar development there.

Another season with the Bundesliga outfit ensured the Slovenian striker improved his maturity, and tactical knowledge and is slightly better than he was last summer. Arsenal decided against targeting anyone after Sesko’s call and entered the new season with only Havertz and Gabriel Jesus as their main strikers while cashing in on Eddie Nketiah.

One might argue that Arsenal began the new season with a weaker attacking setup than the previous one, especially in the No.9 role. Given how the season went on, the presence of Nketiah could have proven crucial, as the Gunners practically have played without a striker since Jesus and Havertz sustained season-ending injuries at the start of the year.

Mikel Merino was successfully converted into a false-nine, but he cannot be the answer for the long run. Arteta should not even think about the Spaniard in the No.9 role any longer, and instead push the club to sign a new player in the position immediately.

That is not to say Arsenal did not react in January after Jesus’s injury, as Aston Villa rejected a late bid for Ollie Watkins. The England striker is still an option, but the likes of Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres have now taken centre-stage in a transfer saga that could drag on for sometime in the summer.

Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko?

Choosing between the two centre-forwards has been eating up Arsenal fans, who are unable to make a concrete choice. On one hand, there is the Swedish striker Gyokeres, who has had two goal-laden seasons in Portugal with Sporting CP.

He is also a physical specimen for how he can potentially bulldoze defences to get his way, although there are many doubts over his heading ability. That aside, he has proven his worth with two seasons full of goals with Sporting CP, which has certainly excited Arsenal fans, while he could be signed for significantly less than his €100 million release clause.

On the other hand, Sesko is a young striker, who has continued to develop at a rapid pace but is still seen as a raw product compared to Gyokeres. The Slovenian is seen as a big investment for the present and future, although compared to the Swede, he is probably not in the ‘win now’ category of strikers, while there are doubts whether Gyokeres is in that zone too.

As for Sesko, he has a long future ahead and probably a lot more to develop, as a coach like Arteta would be ideal for his growth. In terms of choosing between the two, for Arsenal’s sake, a move for the Slovenian would make more sense than Gyokeres.

Is Sesko the ideal striker for Arsenal?

Gyokeres has practically not played in one of the top five leagues in his career, and while he is destined to change that next season, it is probably a risk too much for a team like Arsenal. Yet, they are well positioned in the race to sign the Swedish frontman, although recent reports have indicated that Sesko might be slightly ahead in their thinking.

Arsenal are in concrete talks with RB Leipzig for Sesko, and while the Slovenian will cost a bit more than the Swede, he might be the right choice for the present and future of the club. This pursuit has shown that Andrea Berta is aware of the market conditions surrounding strikers, but he is not putting all the eggs in the same basket.

Moreover, his decision to engage in talks for Sesko will be perceived as Arteta getting his way, given the Slovenian was the manager’s preference since last summer. However, that may not be the case, as the two pursuits are purely the product of staunch decision-making from all parties involved within the club.

Sesko has many qualities that fit into the blueprint of strikers that Arteta wants and the club’s system requires. The youngster may not produce the numbers that Gyokeres will probably do at Arsenal, but he can be moulded into the kind of centre-forward that Arteta wants to develop.

Hence, Benjamin Sesko, for his abilities and even at a higher price will prove to be the right decision. He also has the experience of playing in a top league like the Bundesliga, which is a major plus point he has over Gyokeres. At the moment, Havertz is still widely expected to start the new season as Arsenal’s No.9, with Sesko the ideal choice for the backup role, as he has all the ingredients to become their main striker in the years to follow.