**Benjamin Sesko v **Viktor Gyokeres****
The week started with it looking like we were in pole position for Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres. It finishes with it looking like Benjamin Sesko is our primary striking target.
As with everything these days, some have tried to turn the situation into a way to divide the fanbase and club.
Some have positioned themselves as “I want Gyokeres, I do not want Sesko”, whilst others have gone for Sesko over Gyokeres. In the mix, they have also tried to write the narrative of it being Arteta v Bertea – with Sesko apparently being Mikel’s favourite and Gyokeres the choice for the new Sporting Director.
Why do some fans really need to turn the situation into an argument? It really is tiresome and a big reason why I have little online presence these days.
Now I am not saying you can not have an opinion or a preference, but some fans take it too far with their divisive language and agenda.
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For me, both have positives and negatives.
Gyokeres is perhaps the “ready to go” option. But he is soon to turn 27 and has only performed in the Championship and Portugal. There would rightly be questions as to whether he can take his Portuguese form and replicate it in the Premier League (see Darwin Nunez).
Meanwhile, the feeling is Sesko has a higher ceiling, but right now is a rawer talent with the Slovenian only turning 22 tomorrow.
Gyokeres (at his age), would surely be coming in as first choice striker, relegating Kai Havertz to the bench. But there is no proof that Gyokeres will outperform Havertz, and the German is a huge salary to have sitting on bench.
Meanwhile, Sesko, who will likely command a lower salary, could dovetail with the criminally underrated Havertz whilst he continues to develop.
Regardless of your opinion on either, it is undeniable that both would improve the squad.
**Myles Lewis-Skelly**
Some fake news floating about around Myles Lewis-Skelly.
“According to Guardian Sport”, Lewis-Skelly has interest from Real Madrid following his new contract negotiations “not going well”. Except no such story exists on the Guardian Sport webpage, and they no longer post on X.
It seems the story is entirely made up by a fake social media news aggregator in an attempt to gain hits and monetise their account ahead of the transfer window.
**Gabriel**
A year ago there were some strange links of Gabriel to Saudi Arabia. I never really understood them.
Whilst William Saliba is the classes player, I have always felt Gabriel was our better defender. He is the leader at the back. The organiser.
News today is that we are close to a new contract with the Brazilian defender, taking him through to 2030.
If it is done and dusted, the contract will take Gabriel to 10-years at The Arsenal and over 400 appearances (depending on fitness). And I see no reason why he could not go on for another 5 years after and end up in our top 10 for most appearances for the club.
All Gabriel needs is the trophies, and he is well on the way to becoming a club legend.
**Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson**
A narrative has been written that Arsenal were wrong to let Emile Smith Rowe and Reiss Nelson depart last summer. The same people have probably spent a decade moaning that we keep Hale End boys too long, crashing their transfer value rather than cashing in.
Smith Rowe had a brilliant season for the club back in 2021. But since then he struggled for form and fitness and it was clear that he needed first team football for his career to kick on. and he was not good (or fit) enough to play week in, week out for The Arsenal.
Moving to Fulham for £27m was a deal that suited all parties.
Arsenal got a chunk of cash which was 100% profit (for PSR) for a player who was 4th choice winger. Fulham got decent, mid-table Premier League proven player, and Smith Rowe got (almost) guaranteed first team football.
Smith Rowe’s place in the squad was taken by Ethan Nwaneri. The increased game time for the 18-year-old saw him kick on and he is now quite clearly ready to be the understudy for Bukayo Saka. Nwaneri would not have got the minutes he did if we kept Smith Rowe.
Meanwhile, Nelson was loaned out (also to Fulham).
In the Premier League, Nelson made 14 appearances, starting 5 games. He scored 1 goal and got 1 assist. Not sure why anyone would think a player who failed to play regularly for Fulham would have an impact for us.
I expect Nelson to be sold this summer. Like Smith Rowe, he is not title challenger quality.
**Keenos**