When looking to end a seven-and-a-half-year wait to sign a true striker, Arsenal have left nothing on the table when it comes to the sort of player they want. In Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko, they were after a 'proper No.9.'
No longer would the fluid versatility of Gabriel Jesus do. Kai Havertz has acted an out-and-out focal point but was not purchased to be one in 2023. Arsenal knew, of course, that he could after becoming more of a striker the longer he played at Chelsea, but the initial idea was to combine with Jesus rather than replace him.
In between Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's January 2018 move from Borussia Dortmund to now, many have deputised and tried. Jesus and Havertz are the closest they have come.
Jesus has lacked form and fitness for over 18 months now, leaving his long-term future uncertain, whilst Havertz is missing competition and support up front. Arsenal, after chasing a striker for over a year, cannot be said to have cut corners this time.
In Gyokeres, who they are finally closing in on signing, Arsenal are getting a bulldog of a striker. There is very little link play to his game. This is striker in the truest sense.
He is big, physical, quick, powerful, shoots with immense force, and runs through opponents if not around or over them. He isn't brilliant in the air but offers plenty of the strikery things that Arsenal have needed.
There will be questions over his league translation from Portugal but Arsenal cannot be accused of half measures here. Sesko, like Gyokeres, is more of a striker than anything the club have had in recent seasons.
He is also big and quick but with a slender, lanky frame. Sesko is speedy, gets serious weight behind his shots, and does offer more in tight spaces. In the end, the finances of the two deals and Gyokeres' experience have swung things.
With Jesus and Havertz injured for much of 2025, Arsenal have had to continue adapting. Mikel Merino took the spot as a bulky, battling midfielder. He became a similar profile to Havertz as a target man.
Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli have been used there on occasion. Even Ethan Nwaneri has had a brief stint. The time for making do is over. Arsenal will start next season with two real strikers.
Havertz can now surely be considered that. Gyokeres will make up for it anyway. It leaves Sesko in a state of uncertainty over what comes next in his career.
Arsenal had pushed for him last summer. Chelsea did the same. Manchester United were among the many interested teams. None of these teams are currently in a position now to buy.
Gyokeres is soon to be a Gunner. Chelsea have Liam Delap, Nicolas Jackson, and Joao Pedro. Even if Jackson was to leave, it is unlikely that Sesko would be their pick. United are struggling for cash and had already turned towards Gyokeres over Sesko.
Arsenal, after weeks and months of deliberation over which of the two strikers they would favour in the market, opted to leave Sesko hanging. His summer will now take on a very different shape.
And what of Victor Osimhen? Arsenal were always much more distant from him this summer, as they were 12 months ago, but it is another club searching for a striker that has gone elsewhere.
Osimhen is the proven but expensive mix. He does not appear to have a Premier League deal in him despite looking to be a good fit. Saudi Arabian teams and Galatasaray will fight it out for his signature.
In another world, maybe Arsenal end up with him last summer. They were never out of the race to get Sesko instead, either. It's Gyokeres that Andrea Berta and Arteta have chosen. With two genuine monster strikers available, others inevitably have to suffer or go without.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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