Former Gunner Ray Parlour is happy with Arsenal’s pursuit of Benjamin Sesko and believes the striker is a fine player, but he has pointed out one weakness that Arsenal must help him work on.
Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are the two main strikers on the Gunners’ radar this summer, with Mikel Arteta’s side expected to add just one of them to the squad. The Gunners have followed Sesko closely for more than a year and even made their pitch to him last summer.
Sesko has been on Arsenal’s radar for a long time
They did not push too hard when he turned them down at the time, choosing instead to focus on his development at RB Leipzig. Arsenal’s refusal to move for an alternative in the last window shows how much they admire the player. This summer, with a new striker high on the club’s list of priorities, they have reignited talks and are optimistic that a deal can be reached.
The Slovenian is believed to be open to the move, and discussions between the clubs are ongoing. However, Parlour has highlighted one area of concern that the coaching staff will need to address if Sesko does join.
Parlour identifies a flaw in Sesko’s game
“It’s not rocket science, is it? It’s glaring at you,” Parlour told Talk Sport. “Sesko has got everything going for him. He’s a young lad, he can improve, he’s strong, he’s quick.
“He’s not great in the air, he can do better in the air probably, if I’m being honest. But he’s on their radar.”
While this may be a valid observation, Arsenal’s staff have shown they are capable of developing players further once they arrive. Sesko’s physical tools, movement, and finishing already make him an exciting option, and the Gunners clearly see the potential for him to grow into a complete striker.
If Arsenal does complete the deal, fans will hope he can quickly adjust and become the forward they need to challenge for major trophies.
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The legendary Henry was not the best in the air but devastating with the ball at his feet, cutting in from the left.
Yes but I don’t think sesko is as fast, skilled or even as strong as Henry. If you’re expecting him to be anything like Henry, you’ll be disappointed GS
Really unfair to compare any player to Henry. He’s consistently ranked as the best forward in all of Premier League history. Mbappe is probably the only player I’d compare to him in the modern game.
Sesko’s top recorded speed in the Bundesliga last season is the same as Haaland’s top speed in the Premier League, so while he’s not quite the speed demon Henry was, he’s definitely competitive with the current competition.
I’ve heard mixed things about his heading – my impression is he’s not as good as you’d expect for his height, either because he’s not great at reading the flight or is too easily moved by defenders.
We need a striker for the here and now, not a player who has potential. The consistent message l hear about Sesko is he is raw but with great potential. When Man U. signed RVP from us it was with the intention of winning the league, and guess what?
You said it JB……RVP moved at around 29 and got the trophy…..i dont understand this level of patience………get Gyokeres in to hit the ground!!
When they signed SANCHES?
Sesko has an incredible leap, one that I’ve only seen in the likes of Cristiano and Zlatan. That said, I don’t think he has fully mastered how to use his body in heading situations.
I wouldn’t say it’s a flaw because he has all the tools to be elite in the air. It’s something that can easily be fixed with coaching and his body filling out. Once his body fills out and he’s taught how to position himself, he can be as dominant as Giroud.
I would say it’s a flaw for Gyokeres though because at 27, I’m not sure his aerial game is going to improve.
I’m not too worried about the aerial ability of our new striker,however, because we have Havertz and Merino who can compensate for this.
OPTA Analyst has this to say about Sesko’s ability in the air:
“Of the 25 forwards to contest at least 60 aerial duels in the Bundesliga this season, Sesko had the best success rate (57.4%) – and that was made even more notable by the fact he was involved in 122 (aerial duels).”
This doesn’t specify attempts on goal of course, but it is an interesting stat when it comes to set pieces and breaking through low blocks.
Thanks for the stats. Aerial ability is one of his strengths- it just needs a little fine tuning.Not a flaw by any means.