As Arsenal gear up for another Premier League title chase, the need for a clinical striker remains glaring. Last season, Mikel Arteta’s men came close but were again left empty-handed, finishing 10 points behind champions Liverpool and falling at the Champions League semi-final hurdle. One glaring weakness was a reliable centre-forward.
Gabriel Jesus battled fitness issues, and Kai Havertz, despite his adaptability, failed to reach double figures in goals. Arsenal need a new weapon upfront, and the rumor mill has placed two names at the top of the shortlist: Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyökeres.
But what would either forward bring to the Emirates? Let’s break it down.
Benjamin Sesko: The Dynamic All-Rounder
Tall, fast, and versatile, 22-year-old Benjamin Sesko has the tools to torment defenders in a variety of ways. The Slovenian striker blends physicality with finesse, capable of dropping deep, holding up play, or racing past backlines. His 13 Bundesliga goals this past season were respectable, especially considering RB Leipzig’s seventh-place finish.
He’s not just a finisher, he’s a mover. He clocked a top speed of 35.7 km/h, one of the fastest in the league, and boasted the best aerial duel win rate of 57.4 percent among Bundesliga forwards with 60 or more battles.
While comparisons to Erling Haaland are inevitable, Sesko isn’t the ruthless poacher that defines Haaland’s game. Instead, he’s more of a hybrid striker, able to float into midfield or drift wide to create space. Still, his finishing can be inconsistent; patches of brilliance like his seven-game scoring streak are often followed by quiet spells.
However, with age on his side and plenty of room to develop, Sesko looks like a high-upside investment. Arteta could mold him into something special.
### Viktor Gyökeres: The Scoring Machine
Then there’s Viktor Gyökeres, a 26-year-old Swedish powerhouse who exploded onto the European scene with 54 goals in 52 games for Sporting CP this season. That followed a dominant first year in Portugal where he scored 43 times in all competitions.
At 6 feet 2 inches and built like a tank, Gyökeres combines brute strength with surprising finesse. He’s a volume shooter with 4.5 attempts per game and elite accuracy, converting over 27 percent of his non-blocked, non-penalty efforts. These numbers rival Premier League elites like Salah and Haaland.
But he’s more than just a scorer. He created 60 open-play chances in the Primeira Liga, attempted 130 dribbles, and carried the ball nearly 4,800 meters, making him a self-sufficient threat capable of dropping deep and carrying Arsenal forward.
Perhaps most impressively, he notched six Champions League goals, including a memorable hat-trick against Manchester City. That big-game pedigree could come in handy in England.
League Context: Does It Translate?
Sesko’s Bundesliga experience carries weight. Germany’s top flight ranks third globally according to Opta Power Ratings. By contrast, Gyökeres’ exploits in the Primeira Liga, which is ranked eighth, raise questions about how his output would translate to the Premier League.
Players like Darwin Núñez and Jackson Martínez found the jump from Portugal to England difficult. Gyökeres may face the same scrutiny. But others, like Bruno Fernandes, proved it can be done.
Sesko’s slightly muted Bundesliga numbers came in a tougher environment, while Gyökeres scored in bulk but often against weaker opposition. It’s a gamble either way.
### The Verdict: Who Should Arsenal Choose?
Both strikers bring serious upside but in different ways.
Sesko is the long-term project, a multi-dimensional forward with world-class potential.
Gyökeres is the immediate impact player, a goal-getter who looks ready to lead the line from day one.
Ultimately, it comes down to Arsenal’s appetite for risk and reward. If they want a plug-and-play scorer, Gyökeres is the guy. If they’re planning for the future, Sesko offers a broader skillset to build upon.
Whatever the decision, either would be a major upgrade and give Arsenal fans plenty of reason to dream.
Opta Analyst Premier League Hub
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