Ask Ollie Watkins, Arsenal only come for you once. And when they do, you’d better be ready to make the switch. Benjamin Sesko might just be learning that the hard way, if recent reports are to be believed.
According to The Sun, RB Leipzig’s prolific young forward was Arsenal’s top striker target last summer. Fresh off a strong campaign with 18 goals in 42 appearances, Sesko was seen as the future of the Gunners’ frontline.
Arsenal reportedly held advanced talks with Leipzig and were confident of sealing the deal. But on 12 June, the Slovenian striker opted to sign a new contract with the Bundesliga club instead, dealing a blow to the North Londoners’ plans.
That decision unsettled Arsenal’s recruitment team so much that they chose not to pursue any other striker that window.
Sesko no longer top of the list
Fast forward a year, and Sesko’s stock has risen further, 21 goals in 45 games this season, but Arsenal’s interest has cooled.
The 21-year-old is no longer considered a priority. Instead, Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyökeres has leapfrogged him to become Arsenal’s primary striker target heading into the summer.
That’s a blow for Sesko and his representatives, especially as Leipzig failed to qualify for the Champions League. By all accounts, the forward is keen to move, but he may now find Arsenal’s door closed.
Berta focusing elsewhere
While some reports had suggested that new Sporting Director Andrea Berta was back in talks with Leipzig over Sesko, fresh information claims those discussions were actually about Dutch playmaker Xavi Simons.
Arsenal, it seems, are no longer looking at Sesko to lead their line. They’re targeting impact over potential, and that puts Viktor Gyökeres firmly in pole position.
One shot, gone?
In hindsight, Sesko had his chance. Arsenal were ready. The move could have been done. But he chose to stay in Germany, and in doing so, may have missed his one-time opportunity to wear the red and white of Arsenal.
What do you think, Gooners, should Arsenal reignite their interest in Sesko? Or have we already found our man in Gyökeres?
BENJAMIN KENNETH
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Benjamin sesko has missed his chance the club deceived him to stay, I saw it coming, Now, sesko ruined our season bcuz Arteta like him instead he did not sign any player waiting for sesko.
Look at today we have someone better to sign in Viktor Gyokeres, a ready made player far better than sesko
Sesko is not ready for this season, Arteta doesn’t have much time to wait for sesko bcuz next season he must win win win for Arsenal football club.
Arteta needs all ready made players to succeed at this point in time .
We need best legs to win trophy 🏆.
His decision to stay and develop further won’t have affected Arsenal’s interest. If he’d gone somewhere else, like Vlahovic, then maybe.
Berta seems to prefer Gyokeres, but that’s not down to Sesko.
I like this headline, it’s not by design, Arsenal will only come for you once.
But by a combination of factors, Arsenal is only able to approach a player once.
Take Ollie Watkins for example, an Arsenal fan, as I understand it we were prepared to ignore his age in January, but can’t anymore once that Winter Windows slam shut
At £96.5 million I think we should give Sesko a complete miss.
Whoops!!!! £92.5 million
For me Gyokeres all day long.
Arsenal’s recruitment this time should be for those who have won a major trophy as that’s the next and last step we need to make. So we need experience of winning.
Cost and wages will be the main driver. Sesko’s employers have put a very high tariff on the player £80m if that is to be believed with the team in financial difficulties. We want it seems to buy 4 or 5 players as our squad is small. If no kids are considered suitable then you have to buy. My belief is we need 2 who can play up front who are forwards, not make shifts regardless of how good they have been plugging the gap. We need a plan B which is a target man. That’s Sesko. Balance the books by selling Viera, Nelson et al. Not Martinelli.
should Arsenal reignite their interest in Sesko?
Yes… because the interest would never have been with the player direct but with his agent. If Arteta is convinced Sesko really is That Guy then AFC Board should back him and not impose on him an option he’s uncomfortable with. So then if the striker fails at least the manager had stuck to his own conviction rather than appease the crowd.
Or have we already found our man in Gyökeres?
I don’t think Gyokeres is looking only at playing for us – he’ll likely be weighing up options and viewing such properties as are available on the Kings Road or Chelsea Harbour areas; When his agent has dialogue about going to CHE they’ll convince him they pay more than us and that they’ve won every trophy that there is. Perhaps he’s dumb enough to be swung by them?
It’s not true that Arsenal never approach a player twice.
What about Zubimendi? He decided against joining Arsenal last summer preferring to stay put at Sociedad. Now it looks like Arsenal will be second time lucky with him
Haven’t we been linked to Zubimendi since 2023 and he rejected us?
I remember the season that we bought Kiwior in that same transfer window we were heavily linked with Zubimendi but he rejected us.
But it seems like went back in January and tried again with him.
I beg Arsenal to sign both Sesko and Gyokeres if they really want to win any Trophy next season.There are a lot of competition and this is how Sir Alex Ferguson used to have two players of the same quality.This is actually hiw you can cope with injuries and exhaustion.
Would never happen