There’s a certain irony that Benjamin Šeško’s competitive debut may come against Arsenal, while Viktor Gyökeres could make his against Manchester United. Those have been the two names which have dominated any transfer talk regarding the Gunners this transfer window, so it seems appropriate that they will both be the talking point when we kick off our season next Sunday, 17th August, away at Old Trafford
While no one will publicly admit it, there was a period this summer where both strikers looked likely to be in the opposite dressing rooms. If Ruben Amorim had his way, Gyökeres would be living in Manchester, while it is believed Šeško has been a long-term target for Mikel Arteta and that negotiations went on for months. There was a spell in June and July when the media reported it was a case of when, not if, the 22-year-old moved to the Emirates. One journalist in Germany I’m sure said he was “convinced” the deal would happen.
How Arsenal landed Gyökeres
The Red Devils never got that far in talks with Gyökeres because his agent made it clear straight away that his client’s chosen destination was north London. That proved to be a turning point where the two clubs would swap who topped their shortlist.
Part of Andrea Berta’s recruitment policy is to talk to as many targets as possible at the same time. By our Director of Football getting as much information as possible, he quickly learnt just how desperate Gyökeres was to become a Gunner. Most crucially, the Italian found out that the Swede believed he had a verbal agreement with Sporting Lisbon that if he gave another year’s service they would not price him out of a move away. This contradicted the original information we had received. Even if his employers were going back on their word, contractually they were not obliged to have their asking price dictated to them.
It was music to the 53-year-old’s ears when the player’s representatives claimed to have evidence his client was telling the truth and felt so let down by the broken promise that he was willing not to return to work. By making it clear he only had one choice, any chance of a bidding war was ruled out, meaning his valuation was lower than it normally would have been.
How United secured Šeško
This coincided with a combination of RB Leipzig and Šeško talking themselves out of a deal to the English capital. After years of scouting the Slovenian, he has been our manager’s first pick on the consensus he has a higher ceiling. Not only can the forward bully defenders, but for someone his height his pace is impressive.
While many believe the forward could be better than Gyökeres by his peak years, Arsenal do not have the luxury of waiting for potential to develop. The pressure is increasing to end their title drought, meaning the club cannot wait for jam tomorrow. In terms of someone most likely to immediately score 20-30 league goals, we have made the right choice, especially when he was the cheaper option.
Without the offer of Champions League football, Manchester United are in the position where they have had to pay over the odds in terms of fees and wages. Is it written for Šeško to come back and haunt us next Sunday?
Only one week to go.. COYG!
Dan Smith
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I believe in the end we made they right decision by signing Gyokeres instead of gambling on an unproven striker in Sesko b’se that is not what we need right now.
deyo,
I agree, while it’s good to sign potential. Sometimes you need the finished article, and Gyokeres looks to be that.
He just needs to prove it over the coming season to start with.
Agree Derek. The future is now in this case.
Of course, time will tell – up to a point. There are uncertainties with every transfer. Another issue is that the settings in which they will be playing are different. If Gyokeres puts up numbers that fire Arsenal to a major title we can say that it was a successful transfer. However, we can’t say what would have happened if Šeško had joined Arsenal.
Hi Michelle
My post didn’t appear unfortunately
Man United seems to be Sesko’s favorite club, because Newcastle offered him a higher salary but he chose to join Man United
Gyokeres also had better offers from several European and Saudi clubs, but he chose Arsenal
That’s the nuts and bolts of it GAI
Arsenal fans will have to look forward to aricles from legacy media ad infinitum if Tesco scores more goals than Gyökeres & Arteta & Berta made the wrong choice.
Tesco plays for Celtic mate 😂
Even if he does score more goals if won’t necessarily mean they made the wrong choice but I suspect that possibility won’t be anywhere near the narrative.
Good synopsis of how it played out Dan and to answer your last question, of course it’s written that Sesko will score against us, it always is ☹️, but if Gyökeres scores I’ll be happy 🫱👀🫲.
Let’s wait and see how it turns out – and we won’t know that for sure until next May.
The “who could/should have got which striker” debate is redundant now. Right or wrong (and I think it will be right), Arsenal has Gyokeres, so that’s it.
I always wanted Gyokeres .
Come on you gunners.
Sesko seems destined to end up a gunner, at a point it looked like a matter of when and not if. So it will be weird to see him facing us next week and considering our luck it’s just written that he will score too. As long as we win and Gyokeres has a banger season won’t matter.
Berta went for the right man (unless Arteta ruin him as per the norm). Arteta’s would’ve been disaster signing is a problem for Utd now.
Always the village idiot
Good job now go shine Arteta’s shoes and don’t forget to kiss the ring.
Sounds rude.
It makes Arteta look foolish trying to lure the lad for 2 summers and he signs for ManU without any fuss.
We are lucky to have Berta, he sensed the situation well and went for Gyoks, and am happy for this signing – a faster version of Giroud.
Lets hope Arteta swallows his ego and does best for the team/club and does not treat him the way he did for Pepe and Auba
As Fate Would Have It, Both Strikers Will Come Against Each Other In The First Match Of The Season.
Overall Judgement Would Be At The End Of The Season.
I Wish Bith Of Them Goodluck And Most Especially, Injury Free.
Funny how it turned out and now they’ll be up against each other next week. We’ll just have to play the season to see who turns out to be the better signing. Sesko just never really seemed to want us badly enough so I’m happy we have Gyokeres who without a doubt wants to be here and seems to be a fan himself.