Arsenal - Benjamin Šeško - Fabrizio Romano
Image credit: Getty Images
As Arsenal aim to end a 20-year Premier League title drought, their lack of a natural, clinical striker remains a glaring issue. While Kai Havertz has grown into a crucial part of Mikel Arteta’s setup, the Gunners’ interest in RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Šeško signals a desire to level up in the final third and the move could be exactly what Arsenal need.
When Havertz joined from Chelsea in 2023, doubts lingered over his best position and long-term role. But the German international silenced many critics last season, evolving into Arsenal’s primary No. 9 and contributing 14 goals and 7 assists in 51 appearances. His form during the title run-in, where he scored nine goals in 14 games, was crucial to keeping Arsenal in contention.
Havertz’s strength lies in his link-up play, spatial awareness, and ability to float between lines, a tactically intelligent forward who fits Arteta’s system. But there’s a catch: he’s not a natural finisher. His goal return, though solid, masks a tendency to miss high-quality chances, and his output often relies heavily on the availability of players like Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard.
Kai Havertz
Kai Havertz (Image credit: Getty Images)
Enter Benjamin Šeško. At just 21, the Slovenian striker offers a completely different profile, one Arsenal have sorely lacked. Šeško scored 21 goals for Leipzig this season, boasting a conversion rate nearly 20% higher than Havertz and ranking in the top 4% of forwards in Europe for non-penalty goals. These aren’t just numbers; they’re the hallmarks of a striker who doesn’t need many chances to find the net.
Physically, Šeško is a beast. At 6’5″, he combines speed, strength, and aerial ability, a rare blend that gives him an edge in the Premier League’s physically demanding environment. Unlike Havertz, whose strength lies in creating space, Šeško thrives in it. He stretches defences, makes direct runs, and strikes the ball with power and precision. He is, in every sense, a penalty-box predator, something Arsenal have missed since the peak days of Robin van Persie.
READ MORE: Mikel Arteta has already identified what makes Benjamin Šeško the ideal striker for Arsenal
One of the most underrated aspects of Šeško’s appeal is his fitness record. He has suffered just three minor injuries in his senior career, all during his time at RB Salzburg and none in his two seasons with Leipzig. In that time, he made 87 appearances and scored 39 goals. In a season where Arsenal’s attack was repeatedly disrupted by injuries to Saka, Martinelli, Ødegaard, and Gabriel Jesus, Šeško’s reliability becomes a key asset. Availability is a superpower and he’s got it.
Šeško scored 21 goals for Leipzig this season, boasting a conversion rate nearly 20% higher than Havertz and ranking in the top 4% of forwards in Europe for non-penalty goals. These aren’t just numbers; they’re the hallmarks of a striker who doesn’t need many chances to find the net.
Šeško’s arrival wouldn’t mean sidelining Havertz, far from it. With Arteta’s preference for fluid positional play, Havertz could drop into a deeper attacking midfield role, where his passing and movement would complement Šeško’s directness. Together, they could form a formidable partnership, especially with Ødegaard pulling the strings and Saka stretching defences out wide.
Benjamin Šeško
Benjamin Šeško (Image credit: Getty Images)
Arteta has already acknowledged the need for more firepower: “If we have three goal scorers over 25, bring them in and we’re going to be a much better team,” he said. Šeško fits that ambition, both in terms of goal output and age. At 21, he’s a long-term investment, younger than Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, or Alexander Isak, yet with an elite ceiling.
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Arsenal are believed to be confident of landing Šeško ahead of rivals like Manchester United and Chelsea. With a release clause in the region of £66 million, he represents value in a market where proven forwards like Isak command north of £150 million. It’s a strategic move: not just to fill a gap, but to push Arsenal from contenders to champions.
Kai Havertz has exceeded expectations and earned his place in Arteta’s plans. But Benjamin Šeško could offer what Havertz cannot: ruthless finishing, elite athleticism, and consistent availability. In a league where margins are razor-thin, Šeško’s profile as a natural No. 9 might just be the difference between another near miss and a long-awaited Premier League title.
If Arsenal are serious about ending their drought, Šeško isn’t just a luxury, he’s a necessity.
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