The signing of a top-class number nine had long been on the agenda, which is why the arrival of Viktor Gyökeres has generated a flood of excitement. Arsenal completed the much-anticipated signing of the Swede towards the end of July, bringing the curtains down on a lengthy transfer saga. Due to the tactics employed by sporting director Andrea Berta, the Gunners were heavily linked to several strikers simultaneously and only pulled the trigger after carefully evaluating their options.
Ahead of the new campaign, questions are being raised about Mikel Arteta’s involvement, or lack thereof, in the deal for Gyökeres. Speaking on The Overlap Fan Debate, Manchester United icon Paul Scholes admitted he is not convinced Gyökeres was Arteta’s preferred choice for the role.
“[Arsenal needed a] centre forward, I just wonder if you’ve chosen the right one,” Scholes said. “Because there was a lot of um-ing and ah-ing about it, I wondered if Mikel Arteta really wanted him, as the main one he wants? I’m not too sure, and he’s got him now. He’s had a really strange career path – Brighton, Coventry, and then he’s gone to Sporting Lisbon, and his goal record is absolutely brilliant – you can’t take that away from him. If there’s any team that he could go to and create chances, then it should be Arsenal, and it should be a really good match.”
Šeško, Berta and the Backstory
For much of the window, Benjamin Šeško was believed to be the club’s top choice at centre forward – more specifically, Mikel Arteta’s top choice. The Slovenian was lined up for a transfer in summer 2024 but decided to stay at Leipzig. This summer, Arsenal pushed harder, but an inflated transfer fee, failure to agree personal terms and concerns over his mentality saw the Gunners pull out of the race.
Credible reports have also revealed that Gyökeres was a signing driven by Andrea Berta following his arrival. Nevertheless, Arteta would definitely have had a say in the deal.
New Power Dynamic at Arsenal?
There is little doubt the Spaniard leaned more towards a move for Šeško, but the club’s decision to sign Gyökeres indicates a healthy relationship brewing between Berta and Arteta. If the Italian was the driving force behind the move, he would have had to convince the manager to jump on board. That dynamic between the pair will be crucial as the Gunners seek major silverware next season.
Thoughts appreciated in the comments Gooners.
Benjamin Kenneth
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Šeško looks bound for Utd. Whether he was Arteta’s choice or not, it looks as though Šeško’s preference is for them anyway. Perhaps Berta got the feeling that the move was a non starter and acted upon signing Gyokeres ASAP.
Pretty obvious we were after sesko ,18 months in the making ,but I’m glad berta as come in and gone for a different target .
We now have a ready made striker rather than another project .
Sesko might come in and light up the league but he would have been another gamble which we don’t need at this money in time .
Oh look yet ANOTHER negative headline and article by this blog
Thought you had left .
Too early for unwarranted negativity
Promoting the idea of an internal material conflict while there is no hard evidence that it exists. Let’s just battle the other clubs for now.
GOOD IDEA /
Nobody outside of a small group at the club knows about the internal decision making around transfers at Arsenal, a very confidential area of the business – least of all, I would suggest, Paul Scholes who is quoted at length in the article above.
The article, the “story”, is based on phrases such as “I just wonder”, “I’m not too sure” and “…was believed to be”. We also have the good old standby, “Credible reports have also revealed …”, but without naming the source of said reports. In other words, it’s supposition and/or guesswork.
Berta was brought in by Arsenal to do a job and he’s doing it. I think very successfully so far. Let’s judge him on results and not “what ifs” from pundits and vague, unattributed, media reports.
Excellent comment Bertie.👍
Fact Bertha was looking at Gyokores for Athletico. Fact Arteta wanted Sesko from last season. Fact, negotiations for Sesko were difficult and we were hitting a brick wall. Seskos agents were greedy and over rating him. Gyokores agent could not have been more helpful in negotiating with a difficult president. There was a meeting a while ago and it was agreed Gyokores was the best option, in every way shape and form. End of.
Spot on. Reggie.
The verified full proof source of this Arteta vs Berta, Sesko vs Gyokeres bs are idiotic arteta haters and fans who want to instigate conflict and divide when there is none.
Real talk @Ackshay. Speculations and sensationalism. Unknown sources, unreliable sources, some sources, and no sources. We are going to see or hear more of these until September 1.
Nothing to do with haters or lovers. The nut and bolts of it are true. What do you expect people to do, lie to protect, in this case Arteta. I don’t think so.
True??? where’s the truth and the source? it’s just another brainless wanna be pundit saying ” i wonder”, ” i think” whatever. When you hate or dislike someone you are biased and more easily believe anything negative said about that person. That’s all what it is.