Reports have emerged suggesting a possible disagreement between Mikel Arteta and Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Berta regarding the striker the club should target during the upcoming transfer window. As the Gunners prepare for another critical summer of recruitment, attention has turned to who will lead the line next season.
According to recent speculation, Arteta is keen on securing the signature of Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenian striker has long been on Arsenal’s radar and was close to joining the club last summer. Despite his relatively young age, Sesko is regarded as a forward with high potential and one who could provide long-term value.
Contrasting Opinions on Transfer Priorities
While Sesko remains a firm favourite of Arteta’s, Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly become a top choice for Berta. The Swedish striker has been in outstanding form at Sporting Clube, where he has established himself as one of Europe’s most prolific forwards. His goal-scoring record has drawn interest from a number of top clubs and positioned him as a more immediate solution for Arsenal’s attacking needs.
Although Gyokeres is older than Sesko, his proven ability to deliver consistently could be viewed as a safer investment for a team looking to challenge for silverware right away. On the other hand, Sesko’s youth and development trajectory might align more closely with a long-term strategy.
Arteta Responds to Rift Claims
Amid these reports, Arteta was asked about the alleged differences between himself and Berta. In response, he maintained that there is harmony between the pair regarding the club’s ambitions and planning. Speaking to Standard Sport, he said: “On what we have to do, yes [we are fully aligned]. On what we can do, I don’t know. I think sometimes from the plan that we had, and actually what we’re able to execute, we’ve never been able to replicate it exactly.”
As Arsenal prepare for another summer of critical decisions, it will be important that Arteta and Berta work in tandem to ensure the right additions are made to strengthen the squad.
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I have been told that Arteta wants and has always wanted Sesko but Berta wants Gyocores now he has come in. It may or may not be a rift but it would be nice to see Berta getthus way because what I understand Edu, didn’t always get his.
Reggie, but surely it should be down to the manager which players are signed, as he’s the one who coaches/trains them, picks the team and the tactics and gets the sack if things go wrong, not the SD.
Totally agree Mr Drier. Each incoming player fits a system, being the most important consideration in this decision. Each player will shine best in the system that suits them, get no Michelin stars in a system that does not suit them.
Theres the group of fans who say “this player has scored the most goals in Europe for last two seasons and is the talk of the town, I want that one.”
Bless them. 🙏
Goals scored in Championship or a similar farmers league, don’t come into the equation at all when a top side is choosing such a Marquee signing.
There’s the smarter group of fans who recognise the athletic, relentless, best in the air in world football of Osimhen, surely we sign him, nothing could go wrong?
I’m surprised there are so many Arsenal fans having Osimhen top of the list. I am attracted by the pro’s, but there those cons, if even Chelsea are put off by wage demands. also injury concerns, based on the way he plays. I think also strong limitations with his passing and ball carrying. Whole hearted power and speed, yes, but the technical ability to join in a team game? Added to that a touch of attitude and red mist in pressure situations, means he is doing cold Turkey for a reason and not a big club in big league – risk cost benefits of possible unavailability.
Then you have the group of fans, the thinkers, like me and you, who don’t see four number 9’s, when you point out Gyokeres, Sesko, Isak and Osimhen – they see apple, pears, oranges and lemons, and ask the question: which one best pairs with our particular type of meat? Which to use as glaze and added sauce.
You can’t always get what you want. But sometimes, you can get what you need. And what Arsenal need is a 9 who is a mobile and technical baller, who can fit in an aggressive attacking possession based playing style.
Thats not how it works HD. The players is the director of footballs job. That doesn’t mean there isn’t discussion with the manager. From what I understand Arteta got his way more often than he should and Edu was not happy. The director of football is the buyer and thats how it works.
So who gets the blame/sack if the new signings don’t work out ?
Maybe it works better when it’s a Head Coach and a SD.
The sporting director gets the players, the manager manages them. Thats how it works. Thats the two roles.
So if the SD gets players that don’t fit into the system that the manager wants to play, is the manager then supposed to change the system ?
You better ask the manager and the SD. That tge two roles as they are supposed to be.
Edu was against signing Havertz but Arteta pressurized him Edu for Havertz signing later Edu was the one who was blamed for that signing,Edu also wanted Rashford on loan at January but Arteta refused thinking he had lots of options inarsenal attack which later didn’t work out as planned.
How on earth could Edu want to sign Rashford on loan in January when he’d already left his job here ?
Also we couldn’t sign Rashford on loan in January, as we already had 2 loanees from clubs in the PL.
@Herr Drier
Tre Uncool dude. You didn’t have to crush the guy like that. He was only trying to be relevant…😂
NY_Gunner, 😂
From what I understand Edu wanted Rashford in the summer. Now Sterling was Artetas choice, wether that had an impact, I don’t know. If I had to guess then yes. And Arteta wanted Mount, not Haverz. We got Haverz because Mount chose over us, we found out Haverz was available.
Mount chose utd over us👏👏👏
“Sterling was arteta’s choice”? Says who?
In the summer i supposed you seems to be commenting for the sake of commenting, Sterling was Artetas choice, Rashford was what Edu wanted get that.
You obviously live in a part of the world that has opposite seasons to us here in the UK…summer in January😂
😵💫
Last summer, not January?
I take your point, Edu worked out he would be better off working for the Nottingham owner, than Arsenal.
The owners do have a “live within our means” policy – which isn’t bad when you consider Liverpool just one a title with similar policy.
Arsenal Sporting Director also can’t just buy shopping basket of good players – each have to fit the Arteta system – that is very different than Simeone’s!
Think Reggie could be on to something, hopes good sense prevail in the end
I think that Arsenal quote from yesterday in header is in reference to how your plan A is similar to all your rivals plan A, so you don’t always get what you want.
“On what we have to do, yes [we are fully aligned]. On what we can do, I don’t know. I think sometimes from the plan that we had, and actually what we’re able to execute, we’ve never been able to replicate it exactly.”
Huijsen for example, what an amazing young player, absolutely steal at £50M – but the Prem couldn’t keep him – Liverpools need there is far greater, so more a loss for them than us. (Are Pool really serious about Frimpong? I’ll laugh if they sign him).
And remember Liverpool signed a Chelsea reject as their second choice, when they didn’t get what they wanted. That 2nd choice Chelsea reject has just, mostly single handedly, delivered an EPL title.
Huijsen only wanted to Real Madrid so their was no need of pl club fighting a losing battle.
You have to fight though. You have to try to hijack it.
You are fighting for your own Plan A, is the point.
Perhaps the more relevant quote from yesterday is Arteta saying on, if we’re not fully aligned on the players we want
“If that happens that means that we cannot explain ourselves well enough and we are not clear enough on what we want, It didn’t happen in five-and-a-half years with Edu. They are good to say: “Mikel, look this and this is what we need,” and I say go for it and do it, if not it’s because I will ask that many questions, and we will do so much work, that it will be so evident this is what we don’t have to do – it’s not going to fit.”
It’s not going to fit. If this hasn’t been said recently, how does this answer flow so fast and so honestly?
Yes I’m getting the vibe, Berta came determined to sign Gyokeres, but Arteta has put strong reasoned arguments together, and talked Berta out of it.
This is all speculation much of which lacks credibility. Really poor to be making these assertions.. We have no idea whether Berta was determined to sign Gyokeres or any other player.
As coach and manager Arteta must have the final say on players he need. Berta must not be allowed to players he likes , simple. Instead, Berta must focus on the expediting the completion of the negotiations that were started in January for Zubimendi, Sesko, Williams and Garcia. He also needs to get rid of the deadwood at Arsenal and get good value sale of players like Zinchenko, Tierney, Lonkonga, Nelson, Jesus, Tomiyasu, White and Tavares asap, to raise funds to help get Arteta Arteta is the boss and must be respected and rewarded with the players he demand. Arsenal must not make the same mistake they made by not buying Isak with Sesko because he’s young. The Arsenal scouts have already chosen him as the best investment since last summer window. Remember, prolific scorers like Nunez and Ramos coming from leagues outside of the top five have failed to impress in their current respective leagues, unlike Haaland (coming from the German league like Sesko) is a proven success. After two years in the premier league, Isak has become the best striker and Arsenal cannot afford him now, the same thing could happen with Sesko if Arsenal don’t him now. Which other top five team is seriously considering Gyokores?
Whatever Arteta wants, Berta will still have the final say. He’s a director, which trumps manager🤣
It doesn’t work like that!!!
Wait & see Reggie😏
Berta seems a different kettle of fish from Edu, one thing for sure, as even before the Italian became an Arsenal employee, it is belive his influence was felt.
That simple means you won’t see any impulsive signing, maybe players as Viera wouldn’t dream of the coloney, not saying the Portuguese isn’t up for it though.
I had to do a speed read on Wikipedia to find out more than the little bit I knew about Berta.
He didn’t come into the Sporting Director position through playing football as Edu had done, but rather through a more administrative, technical and data driven role behind the scenes. Apparently very thorough etc etc
What strikes me is that Arteta- or whoever is the manager- has to have a reasonable level of input in identifying the types of player that suit his system. So much has been argued over the roles of Mislintat and Sanhelli in putting the kibosh on Emery’s tenure that manager and sporting director have to align rather than the SD going gung-ho after whoever he wants. It has to be a two way street surely?
Sure it has to be a two way street, but it will be a delicate balance with two big personalities.
Think it should be more as a 60% gaffer’s, 40% Sporting director, but am not sure how that would work.
But surely the gaffer has to have the final say.
Just read that Arteta was “Talked-Around” and Arsenal are going in with a 4-year deal for Gyokeres this week at 60.5m GBP and 180k/week and the player and club are “Happy” with that. Sounds good to me. Would be awesome to get that done early as possible.
I think its best for Arteta to work with Bertha. Some signings Arteta made during his managerial career has been questionable: Sterling on loan from Chelsea which turned out to be a failure, Tavares and Lokonga joining from Benfica and Anderlecht respectively who did not impress and sent out on loan repeatedly, Fabio Viera’s move from Porto which turned out to be unsuccessful thus he was sent out on loan, Marquinhos from Brazil, a young player who is yet to blossom after two seasons of loan spells. Tomiyasu, G. Jesus and Calafiori who have huge issues staying fit and have become regulars in the treatment room due to recurring injuries, just to mention a few. However, Bertha while at Atletico signed Rodri, Griezmann, Suarez, Julian Alvarez, Llorente, Cunha etc. Though two of his signings in Joao Felix and Thomas Lemar failed but the others were master strokes.
So we can see that Andrea Bertha is experienced in spotting gems and might just be better placed than Arteta in identifying great players who are less injury prone, excellent at their craft and can fit into different styles of play.
I take Arteta for his word, that he is working in tandem with Berta. It will always be healthy for the club for the two to discuss and reach a compromise on the players who will help Arsenal to come from the rut they are in and return to its glory days of winning trophies.
How it should work is the manager and the SD talk about what type of player they need and the SD gets him. Simples.
If everything in life was so simple ….
If only Sue😵💫
Rumors of disagreements between the two is good. This tells me the system is working well.
The way I see it: Berta now owns the squad and focuses on overall squad health over the next five years. Arteta’s focus is using the squad to win now. A subtle but important difference.
If anything I think Mikel insistence should be on isak, and if that is not possible then I think he should take in to the sporting director’s choice. Sesko and Williams are not who I’d like to see us go for, considering we have better options available.
I mean WHY would Mikel not want to work with Gyockeres, if he wants a natural center forward? Sesko? C’mon!