Since he arrived at Arsenal in 2019, Mikel Arteta has only signed one recognised striker.
In 2022, Mikel Arteta signed Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City for Arsenal, a deal which was seen as a huge coup at the time.
Of course, one year after Arteta did also add Kai Havertz to his squad, but he originally intended to play the former Chelsea player as a number eight.
Given that experiment didn’t work, Arteta has reverted Havertz to a number nine role, but many Arsenal fans would still claim that the German isn’t a ‘proper’ striker.
And in a big-money move this summer, Arsenal intend to finally buy an out and out number nine, a striker who is more interested in finding the back of the net than he is linking play.
And to that end, Arsenal’s striker search has ultimately landed on either Benjamin Sesko or Viktor Gyokeres.
Mikel Arteta picks between Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres
As things stand, Arsenal are thought to be actively working on deals for both strikers, a clever ploy by new sporting director Andrea Berta who doesn’t want to put all of his eggs in one basket.
Both Sesko and Gyokeres might cost a lot for Arsenal were they to be the Gunners’ sole focus, hence why Berta is currently refusing to commit to just one.
However, according to well-placed Portuguese journalist Sebastiao Sousa-Pinto, things have now become a bit more transparent in that regard.
Given his strong understanding of Gyokeres’ situation at Sporting CP, Sousa-Pinto declared that Sesko is actually Arteta’s ‘priority’ this summer — something which must be becoming increasingly clear in Portugal.
Benjamin Sesko during a Bundesliga match for RB Leipzig.
Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images
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The journalist shared his update on X and declared that Arsenal have never made an offer for Gyokeres ‘despite the reports’.
The Sweden international remains on Arsenal’s list in case they are unable to sign Sesko, but a clear preference has emerged.
👀🚨🔴Arsenal nunca fez uma proposta ao Sporting por Viktor Gyökeres, apesar das notícias.
O sueco é alvo sim, mas a prioridade de Arteta sempre foi Sesko, alvo antigo do clube.
Gyökeres segue na lista em caso do negócio não se concretizar e tem preferência nos Gunners, do que… pic.twitter.com/bjAqXAcYko
— Sebastião Sousa-Pinto (@sebsousapinto) June 15, 2025
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Arsenal will struggle to sign Alexander Isak this summer
Unfortunately for Arteta, TBR Football recently reported that Arsenal were reluctant to pay Sesko’s increased asking price.
Sesko rejected Arsenal last summer and there might be more frustration on the horizon this year too.
Of course, Arsenal would love to sign Alexander Isak from Newcastle United in an ideal world, but it seems as if Berta is not wasting too much time on a deal.
Newcastle want to keep Isak and all indicators currently suggest that Eddie Howe’s side will do exactly that.
Therefore, Sesko has emerged as the most ideal Isak alternative for Arsenal, a player who could reach a similar level after a season or two in the Premier League.
Of course, it should be pointed out that Havertz will still be key for Arsenal despite whoever comes in, explaining why Sesko somewhat learning on the job could be an ideal fit.