Arsenal have reportedly begun making concrete moves towards securing the signing of Benjamin Sesko, signalling a decision to forgo the pursuit of Viktor Gyökeres. This development comes as a surprise to many, given the Swedish forward’s outstanding form in the Portuguese top flight with Sporting Club.
Gyökeres has attracted significant attention from Arsenal supporters, largely due to his prolific goal-scoring record and consistent performances. During the current campaign, he has recorded an impressive 39 league goals and contributed 8 assists in just 33 appearances. Over the course of the last two seasons combined, his tally stands at 68 league goals and 18 assists from 66 matches, statistics that highlight his effectiveness in front of goal.
A Comparison of Recent Form
In contrast, Sesko’s career numbers present a different picture. He has scored 69 league goals in 163 matches across all competitions. Specifically, over the last two seasons, he has managed 27 goals and 7 assists in 64 league appearances. While those figures are respectable, they fall considerably short of Gyökeres’s output during the same period.
It is also worth noting that Sesko has been playing in the Bundesliga, a league often considered to offer less physical and tactical intensity compared to the Premier League. Despite this, Arsenal appear determined to bring him in, perhaps valuing his long-term potential over immediate impact.
Concerns Over Arsenal’s Transfer Strategy
Sesko is undoubtedly a player with considerable promise, and his technical qualities and athleticism make him an exciting prospect for the future. However, potential alone is rarely sufficient when the objective is to secure major trophies. Arsenal have made significant progress in recent seasons and are widely regarded as contenders for the Premier League title. A decision to opt for a relatively unproven striker, as opposed to one with a proven record of consistent goal-scoring, may ultimately hinder those ambitions.
The club’s choice to prioritise Sesko over Gyökeres raises important questions about their recruitment strategy. With so much at stake, the success of this decision will likely be scrutinised heavily in the coming season, particularly if the team once again fall short in their pursuit of silverware.
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This transfer will only make sense if the club signs a world class forward on the wings. I’ll be dammed if he’s our only forward signing!
Ettieke should be the player arsenal are targeting. He is comfortable upfront and will happily play on the wing of required to do so. His whole round game in my opinion is better than both gyokeres and sesko
I get the impression you may be right. He looks very well rounded – very good finisher and very good approach play
there is basically no player that transfers with complete certainty of being a success. We’ve seen Messi, Mbappe, Neymar move clubs with varying degrees of success. Sorry but for Gyokeres espescially it’s not certain cause he doesnt come even close to that level of talent. There have been tons of Portuguese league stars that haven’t cut it in top 5 leagues once they move. Darwin was putting up a 26 goal season there at 21/22 then moves to EPL and does just average. We should get the player that suits us better. If Gyokeres was doing this in La Liga or France or Germany then we can talk about a certain hit.
I disagree with the article. Obviously Gyokeres has the stats THIS SEASON to attract attention, but he has not impressed at all in several attempts with clubs like Coventry, Swansea and Brighton. He needed to be 25 and in a Portugeese league with far inferior tempo and physicality. On top of this Sesko is only 21, scores goals in a better league than Gyokered and has far superior speed and wins far more headers. While Sesko isnt the obvios choice, I feel very comfortable if he should be our next striker.
Yes, the article doesn’t mention about Gyokeres’ failed spells in England and Sesko’s taller stature
Sesko would also likely press more than Gyokeres since Sesko is much younger
Gyokeres would only worth the gamble if he was available for under £50m
I’d prefer Arsenal to gamble on Zirkzee instead, because of his playing experience with Timber/ Calafiori and his extra effort to help the midfielders
He didn’t fail in England – I distinctly remember us being linked with gyokeres when he was at Coventry, and grandad saying he was a good striker we should sign, so it can’t be the case that he did poorly at Coventry. Shortly after that, he exploded at sporting.
Did this happen because he’s a relatively late bloomer, or is it the Portuguese league being weaker, or sporting’s playing style getting the best from him – this is the big question.
I agree. I’ve been following Sesko and Gyokeres this season. Both are obviously strong options, but Sesko wins it outright for me.
– He is FAR better aerially than Gyokeres. In the PL and against the teams we struggle with, this is obviously a very useful attribute.
– Has been solid in the Bundesliga. For me, this is more interesting than winning one-on-ones and spanking them in in Portugal, all due respect to the Portuguese league, haha. Refer: Darwin.
– To be fair, we all know Sesko isn’t the finished article. I think his weaknesses are coachable, and given they are quite specific and not directly related to physicality, Arteta’s team will know exactly what to do with him. Gyokeres on the other hand is essentially “what you see is what you get”. His record in England makes me concerned he wouldn’t deliver similar numbers.
– Sesko’s ceiling is I think universally considered higher than Gyokeres. We missed out on the chance to grab Isak a few years ago at this stage in development – Sesko clearly has the same sort of potential. That’s exciting.
So we are going to be told this time next year to just wait for him to get better ?
Get ready for the next excuse come May next year mate.
Have you also noticed that the trophy debacle has also affected the fans’ mentality so much that most have settled for failures and excuses.
You’ll hear “Halland wouldn’t score a much in EPL”… Halland is actually scoring for fun in EPL.
Always referring to Darwin as a failed experiment as if Cr7 and Bruno Fernandez didn’t move from same Portuguese league.
Since Arsenal fans know who would fail and succeed in our team even before they were signed, Why aren’t we winning trophies? I tell you, sign Sesko and we’ll still wait mid season for him to hit the ground running
And how do you know that?
Just because he’s not the finished article doesn’t mean he’s useless and won’t contribute . PSG took a gamble on the young but talented Desire Doue. Doue had 6 G+A at Rennes. He tripled the number to 24 at PSG. There’s no reason why Sesko can’t perform better in a better Arsenal team.
There are many caveats to Sesko numbers. He’s playing in a middle table team that doesn’t create many chances. Sesko also plays in a system with two strikers in which he is asked to play deeper, dropping into midfield. His strike partner, Lois Openda, is the one tasked with playing higher in the box.
Also it’s not like the responsibility to score goals will fall solely on him. We still have Saka, Havertz, Martinelli,Trossard, Nwaneri and potentially another forward signing even after Sesko.
@ Onyango
Reading your…careful and considered analysis – I like it. Only id add that ever since Wenger arrived our club has run the rule over every player with the precision of a surgeon (almost), and with that said Arteta overlooking a player (eg Gyokeres) will likely be a decision taken with v.good reason.
“Sesko also plays in a system with two strikers in which he is asked to play deeper, dropping into midfield. His strike partner, Lois Openda, is the one tasked with playing higher in the box.”
This is the part that gives me a bit of hope – the analysts I’ve seen are a bit baffled why they play with openda higher, when they consider sesko to be better in the box. It feels like a bit of an unknown, as he’d probably play as a lone striker for us, but at least there’s a descent reason behind his relatively underwhelming goals numbers (despite everyone saying he’s a good finisher)
I think he’s been asked to play deeper because of his technical ability. Being able to dribble, drive with the ball and link up with teammates makes him suitable for that role. He’s also adept at shooting from outside the box.
Also I wouldn’t say his numbers are underwhelming. Not great but definitely good. You have to consider the team he’s playing for. Let’s say Haaland or Salah moved to a mid table side, do you think they’ll still score the same amount they score at City/Liverpool? I don’t think so. He’s averaging goals in the teens- that’s a pretty good return. I’d imagine the numbers would be higher if he played at Bayern, for instance.
Relatively* underwhelming – I do think haaland would be scoring much more, even in a team like that. He is an outlier from that perspective, though. I’d be more confident if he was averaging 15 – 20, rather than 13 – might be a small difference, but 15+ is what I see as a solid return for a goalscorer at pretty much any club. Decent EPL players who we wouldn’t want at arsenal can score 10-13 goals with a relatively poor bundesliga club.
Last season, to my understanding, sesko did play as more of a 9, and had similar numbers – the analysts I saw considered it impressive that he scored about the same this season while playing a deeper role, and saw it as him developing. They may be right, or wrong.
Exactly. Thank you. There’s far more to it than baseline stats from last season. I think Sesko will thrive in this team and make us a machine.
An unnecessarily reductive and patronising question.
The poster has presented an argument in favour of his preferred option.
What do you suggest the club should do? Have you weighed up the strengths and weaknesses of available players and considered how they would fit Arsenal?
No. I’ve watched him and thought about it in relation to team play. I would expect him to score 10-15 first season. 5+ headers you don’t get from Viktor are the bonus over Gyokeres, about 10 total. I’m not alone in this analysis.
I have my reservations though, but then be it Gyokeres or Sesko, give Arteta what he wants.
Next season, there’ll be no basis for any excuse.
If the Portuguese league is as poor as people are saying then why isn’t everyone scoring as many goals as Gyokeres??
Thanks mate. Good question
Go for Gyokeres because he is already made product. Arsenal don’t have time to wait for Sesko to mature fully before we start winning silverwares. If this suggestion is not adhered to and there comes a failure at the end of the season, mark my words, most of the senior players will leave the club.
Yes you are right Bayern Munich signed Kane and hi continue his goal’s scorers and Barca signed Lewandowski and he continues his scorers ambition even Chris Wood osimen All did the same I prefer gyokeres instead of sesko
The winner here is the gaffer, his steely determination paid off.
98 goals from a 100 start is no easy feat regardless of the league, but both players is gamble worth taking for the right price
Completely disagree. Makes no sense.
‘It is also worth noting that Sesko has been playing in the Bundesliga, a league often considered to offer less physical and tactical intensity compared to the Premier League.’
So how does Portuguese leauge compare to Premier Leauge??
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Sedko @ 90 🤔
Rather Gyokeres and extra 30m added extra on a winger budget.
Is it me or Arteta got a thing for strickers same stature ?
Havertz, izaak now Sesko
We need more direct
“It is also worth noting that Sesko has been playing in the Bundesliga, a league often considered to offer less physical and tactical intensity compared to the Premier League.” This statement by the writer of this article shows their bias already. They make this caveat about Sesko but don’t say the same about Gyokeres who plays in a much weaker league than both the Premier League and Bundesliga.
An objective analysis should provide the pros and cons of both players. I’m yet to see an article on this forum that provides a detailed analysis of both players. It’s all about the goalscoring statistics which don’t tell the whole story. All the detailed analyses by scouts and experts say Sesko is better suited to the league and Arsenal. It’s also well known that Arsenal have scouted this player for a long time and that should count for something.
Chelsea have bought in Delap,Man united are going for Cunha Liverpool are going for Florian writz, Arsenal are going for Sesko that means clubs aren’t interested in Gyokeres due to their own reasons, some fans of arsenal are crying out and cursing Arteta for not wanting to go all out for Gyokeres as if they are entitled for everything that’s not how things work in clubs players are signed based on salary demands, adaptability to the league as well as coach tactics it’s not about signing players because they are performing well.
I was wondering the same thing. All these clubs needed a striker, but somehow opted for these other players. Maybe there’s something professional scouts know that we don’t. I heard one scout say that Gyokeres would suit a counterattacking set up like Forest and not possession based teams like Arsenal/Chelsea.
Let Arteta have whoever he wants so he will not have any excuse.
Another trophyless season next season because of poor signings and tactics then he will face a protest against him from fans.
It’s looking like Zubimendi and Sesko so far.
The next forward signing will determine how much progress we will make to cross the finish line or not.
It’s time to win trophies not to build, sign a ready made thing, it’s embarrassing finishing second with all the potential in the name of building for the future, remember Sesko rejected us in first place and signed for RB.
Gyokeres all day long for me! He is ready now, a finished product. I am fed up of waiting for trophies and I think most fans are too. We want to win, not in 2030 or 2035 but THIS coming season. Gyokeres now, to hell with Sesko’s scam potential! And @GAI, if I hear you talk about Zirkzee one more time I swear..
No need for one to bother. Arsenal will not sign a proven striker because they are saving money. We will end up again with our “famous trophy”-top four.
Gyokeres plays in a league that made Nunez look world class. Sesko plays in a league that is far closer physically than the Portuguese league. Gyokeres could take 2 years to get used to it. He struggled against our defence. He looked average against Saliba and Co. Sesko is bullying defenders. It makes far better sense to go for sesko
Sesko is not the finished product. That makes him perfect signing for F.C Wait Until Next Year, formerly known as Arsenal..Come next May, when we are out of the title race, Arteta can blame it on Sesko not being at his peak yet. The only “Arsenal” we have these days is an Arsenal of excuses.
Onyango has raised two issues: Is the Portuguese league better than Bundesliga? Secondly, if Gyokeres is so good, why aren’t clubs lining up for him? And may I also add this: Why is his price relatively modest? If one answers these three questions, one will get a balanced view of the situation.
Those are just a few factors. You need to look at other aspects.
Any player with Gyökeres scoring stats has to be taken seriously. However, there are technical aspects of his game to consider. These are the main things that raise questions. Would he be able to replicate his scoring in the PL and would he fit Arsenal’s game plans?
Whether other teams etc. are looking at him should be more minor considerations.
You can’t say that other teams looking at a player is a minor issue. I recall when we got Lacazette everybody was full of praise for him. In fact many fans were claiming that Lacazette was an improvement from Olivier Giroud! A few years later the same fans wished they still had Giroud! Let us hope that the recruitment team will do a good job.
The price tag attached to 21 year old Benjamin Sesko should tell us something about his quality. It is not everyday that a young player is priced so high. Furthermore, this is player which Arsenal has been monitoring since last year. The fact that Arsenal’s interest in him has not waned should be an indicator of his quality. At 21 years he still has all his playing career ahead of him. All factors being equal, he could play for Arsenal even for more than ten years.
Arteta has always been stubborn and that is one of the reasons why he has failed so far. here we go again begging him to go for Gyokeres with proven goal scoring record regardless of the league but instead he has stubbornly decided to go for some one else who is still a work in progress yet it’s about finally winning something big next season (epl or cl) but instead he seems be focusing on the future by stubbornly deciding to go for Sesko instead of Gyokeres. I just hope he gets it right b’se we cannot afford to get it wrong again otherwise if it backfires it will be only and only his fault and therefore he should pay with his job otherwise we can’t continue like this!
Exactly…… So let’s allow him to do his job
Why did so many people think that it’s Arteta final showdown that needs to win trophy next year? True fans do you think it was because of so much negativity from other club fans that pushes you to think that we need to win trophy? We weren’t even competing 5-6 years ago, and never in my dream that Arsenal will be back competing so fast again after comparing with other clubs, it has always been Man city and Liverpool. Stop the pressure and be contented because just 5-6 years ago we always got thrashed by bigger teams all the time. I am enjoying our situation now more than the past 15 years.
Great analysis on Arsenal’s decision to prioritize potential with Sesko over the more certain option in Gyokeres! It’s refreshing to see a club focusing on long-term development and future growth rather than short-term fixes. Investing in young talent like Sesko can pay huge dividends down the road and aligns perfectly with Arsenal’s vision of building a sustainable, dynamic team. It’s a bold move, but one that shows confidence and forward thinking. Looking forward to seeing how Sesko adapts and grows in the Premier League environment! family three piece suit
I hope that we aren’t signing Sesko for his aerial ability and his link-up play. I want a gunman who is never shy of shooting and is a clever box player
Certainty? There is no certainty even if we got Isaak, they have to weigh it all up.
Gyorkres will have no sell on fee.
Arsenal have been scouting sesko for years and are convinced of the talent so will likely have a decent or even massive sell on potential.
A third of gyorkres goals are penalties and I expect they give more penalties in Portugal
Gyorkres is no good in the air, sesko is very good in the air
As there can be no certainty and we would likely have to change our game to suit gyorkres that increases the uncertainty.
We scored lots of goals when we had a fit squad so the problem was not that we didn’t have a 30 goal a season number 9,
Sesko has the height and the strength but is extremely skillful and has far better ball control v gyorkres who often is let down by a bad first touch, Arteta doesn’t want us to be losing the ball on the edge of the other sides box and getting hit in transition.
Lisbon dominated and won their league v Benfica, Porto and errrr boavista and…some other teams
Sesko played in a poor side against the bundasliga in those ridiculous atmospheres at Frankfurt and such places.
Sesko can improve for another 5 years.
So it’s obviously not as simple as certainty v potential. If it was certainty then we would just buy gykores wouldn’t we. “Certainty you say? Well here is the money then, phew,I was thinking of going round the corner and buying a washing machine that would only possibly work”
Silly statement
Sesko probably gave his word to arsenal that he will join this year. They went for him last year. Personally I believe signing a highly rated striker who wants to join the club and fight for the badge is just as important as signing an in form striker. Sesko looks mobile and strong, very tall and has technical intelligence in tight space, quality first touch, with the right system he probably would flourish in the EPL.
Wait and see what happens.
If the rumours that Arsenal have pulled out of negotiations for Gyokores are correct, and are now concentrating on Sesko, it is a worrying development. Sesko will be a very difficult deal to pull off, and will be very expensive. I can see up signing neither player, and I agree with the pundit who said he couldn’t understand why Arsenal hadn’t bid for Delap.
I now think we could be entering the last stages of the summer window still without signing a proven goalscorer.
I haven’t yet see any analysis of each of the players vs Arsenal’s biggest problem over the last 5 years, namely, failure to crack the low block. Which of these players would be based suited to crack up packed buses. In my opinion, that’s the tie breaker between the two. And that’s why Arteta is for Ssesko, because of his aerial threat.