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In talks: Deal now on for Arsenal to sign £70m "diamond", Saka can make him world-class -opinion

Arsenal's most significant weakness this season is not a big secret; it's a lack of goals.

Now, did the Mikel Arteta's side face some questionable refereeing decisions early on and a torrent of injuries later? Yes, yes, they did.

However, even then, it would be hard to describe the club's attack - bar Bukayo Saka - as anything other than disappointing this year. After all, they scored 17 goals fewer than Liverpool.

arsenal-champions-league-arteta-saka-1

So, news that the club are closing in on a new attacking star should excite fans, especially as this is a player who could become world-class with Saka to his right.

Arsenal's attacker search

Given their blunt attack, it's hardly been a surprise to see Arsenal linked with a plethora of forward talent in recent weeks and months, such as Leroy Sané and Nico Williams.

The former could be available for free this summer, as his contract with Bayern Munich expires at the end of the month, and given his tally of 13 goals and six assists in 45 games this season, he'd certainly be a wise acquisition.

Williams, on the other hand, would cost around £50m, but at 22 years old and with a tally of 11 goals and seven assists in 45 games this year, he too would likely be a wise addition to the team.

Athletic Bilbao's Nico Williams

However, what most fans would tell you, and rightly so, is that the Gunners are in need of a new striker more than anything else, someone like Benjamin Sesko.

Yes, according to a recent report from transfers expert Fabrizio Romano, Arsenal have maintained their intense interest in the RB Leipzig star.

In fact, the journalist claims that the deal is now on and that talks between the clubs and the player himself are progressing, with outside reports claiming that the final fee could be somewhere in the region of £70m.

It's certainly a lot of money to spend on a young forward, but his talent and potential are undeniable, and he could be incredible alongside Saka.

Why Sesko would be unreal with Saka

So, while there are likely a plethora of reasons why Saka could help turn Sesko into a world-class striker, from his work off the field to leadership on the pitch, there is one reason that stands above all others: his output.

Arsenal-Sesko (1)

The Hale End superstar has turned into a lean, mean output machine in the last year and a bit, as even though he missed almost four months of action with injury this season, the 23-year-old phenom racked up a superb tally of 12 goals and 14 assists in 37 appearances, which comes out to one every 1.42 games.

Moreover, per Understat, he would have had at least one more assist had his teammates been better at finishing, as his ten league assists came from an expected assist figure of 11.58.

Now, let's look at the Leipzig star's numbers.

In just 45 appearances this season, the 22-year-old "monster," as dubbed by analyst Ben Mattinson, scored 21 goals and provided six assists, which comes out to an average of a goal involvement every 1.66, which for someone of his age, is sensational.

Sesko & Saka in 24/25

Player

Appearances

Minutes

Goals

Assists

Goal Involvements per Match

Minutes per Goal Involvement

All Stats via Transfermarkt

Yet, it gets better, as the Slovenian "diamond," as dubbed by Mattinson, is also able to turn middling chances into goals; according to Understat, his 13 Bundesliga goals came from 10.84 expected goals, and last season, he scored 14 from an expected goals figure of 8.60.

The fact he is consistently finishing at a higher standard than would be expected of him should delight fans and Arteta, as that ability, combined with the Gunners' talismanic number seven, could be a match made in heaven.

And, just to make the former Salzburg gem even more exciting, he happens to be a mammoth 6 foot 5, and yet, per the respected Mattinson, is blessed with "rapid speed," "good dribbling", and "good mobility."

Ultimately, while he isn't going to be cheap, Sesko appears to have everything a striker needs to become a world-class goalscorer, and when you consider he'd be playing alongside Saka, it feels more like a matter of when and not if that happens.

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