The Premier League title may not be heading in the direction of the Emirates Stadium but there are plenty of positives for Arsenal to build upon.
The Gunners are in the semi-finals of the Champions League, Declan Rice has come on leaps and bounds, notably in attacking phases of play, Ethan Nwaneri’s emergence has been sublime and Myles Lewis-Skelly has arguably been even better than the darling of Hale End.
Yet, all of their hard work in overcoming injuries and some questionable refereeing decisions will be worthless if they don’t look to take matters into their own hands over the summer.
While Arsenal boast plenty of depth at the back, it has been in forward areas where they have struggled so much, largely because of those injuries.
Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard have all been absent for lengthy spells and they cannot afford that again in 2025/26.
So, who could they sign?
The forwards Arsenal could sign this summer
A dream move for Alexander Isak looks firmly off the table now with Newcastle demanding upwards of £150m to sell their prized asset.
Several other attackers have been linked with a move to the Emirates, including Chelsea flop Christopher Nkunku this weekend, while there are perhaps more exciting links to the likes of Sporting CP sensation Viktor Gyokeres and French superstar Hugo Ekitike.
Yet, links to a certain Benjamin Sesko just won’t go away.
Arsenal wanted to sign the Slovenian last summer but were fruitless in their attempts when the hulking centre forward decided to sign a new contract with RB Leipzig.
Transfer Focus
Mega money deals, controversial moves and big-name flops. This is the home of transfer news and opinion across Football FanCast.
Sesko has stayed in Germany for the duration of this term but a move in a few months’ time is likely forthcoming.
Well, according to Football.London, his destination could still be the Gunners. Arsenal are said to have continued monitoring his progress and are still keen on bringing him to England.
It was initially thought the Bundesliga club would be willing to let Sesko leave for around £60m but are now having second thoughts having reportedly bumped his asking price up to £86m.
How Benjamin Sesko compares to Viktor Gyokeres
Once famously dubbed “the new Haaland” by scout Jacek Kulig, Sesko has been attracting attention for a number of years now and his stock has arguably never been higher.
This term, the Slovenia international has scored 20 times in 42 games, a very decent record for a striker, particularly one who is still only 21. For context, that’s some way behind the great Gyokeres who has found the net on a staggering 48 occasions this season.
So, on that evidence, how would Sesko be a better signing for the Gunners? Well, we’ll let data analyst Ben Mattinson help us here.
Taking to social media earlier this week, he highlighted that there “a lot of red flags” surrounding Gyokeres, primarily his “heavy first touch” and the fact that he does not shield the ball well. He’s also slow to turn and his touches in transition take him away from the goal.
In a nutshell, that sounds like everything Arteta hates. Let us focus on Havertz a moment. While he’s not the most prolific of scorers, he brings others into play incredibly well and possesses a deft first touch. Even Mikel Merino is better in that regard. His assist against Ipswich, flicking the ball into Gabriel Martinelli with a dose of flair, supports that claim.
Of course, for the less data-led among us, sticking the ball in the back of the net is always the most important thing in football. Yet, Arsenal also need someone who’s going to help them in other phases of play. This is where Sesko comes in.
Viktor Gyokeres
47
48
Victor Osimhen
35
30
Alexander Isak
39
26
Hugo Ekitike
45
22
Benjamin Sesko
42
20
Matheus Cunha
32
17
An incredibly strong striker, one who stands at 6 foot 5, the Slovenian has longer strides than Gyokeres but they both possess that bulldozer effect, crashing through the last line of the defence to score goals.
Crucially for an Arsenal side so used to someone like Havertz or Merino leading the line, Sesko is strong in the air too. Compared to Gyokeres, he wins 2.61 aerials per 90 minutes to the Swede’s 1.18.
To further our point, Mattinson also believes that while both players “are obsessed with goals”, there is “more to work with” when it comes to Sesko, largely because he’s young and his ceiling is greater.
A powerhouse boasting a genuinely exciting profile, Sesko, who has all the potential to become a truly elite no.9, should be the man Arsenal go for if they can’t get their hands on Isak this summer.
Arteta's next Havertz: Arsenal make enquiry to sign £52m "monster"
Arsenal could be about to land a new fprward to end their issues in the final third.
ByEthan Lamb