Identifying Arsenal`s most crucial recruitment need this summer is straightforward.
This season has unequivocally demonstrated that Mikel Arteta`s squad requires a new forward. This is needed not just to provide cover for injuries but also to potentially replace Kai Havertz in the starting eleven.
For many fans, the ideal candidate would likely be the extraordinary Alexander Isak, who has been linked with the club frequently in the past.
However, reports earlier this year suggested he could cost as much as £150m. Given Newcastle`s qualification for the Champions League, it`s reasonable to assume his price tag has only increased since then.
Nevertheless, the good news for the Gunners is that they are now strongly linked with a centre-forward who could potentially be their own version of Isak.
Arsenal`s Striker Search
Considering Arsenal`s need for a new striker this summer, it`s unsurprising that they have been linked with numerous prolific forwards in recent weeks and months, including Viktor Gyokeres and Ollie Watkins.
Gyokeres is reportedly valued around £59m and boasts an incredible record this season with 54 goals and 13 assists in 52 games for Sporting CP. However, his lack of experience in a top-five European league makes a direct comparison to Isak challenging.
Watkins, conversely, has proven Premier League experience and a strong return of 17 goals and 14 assists in 54 games this season. Yet, at nearly 30 years old by the end of the year, he is arguably too old to be truly compared to the Swedish star`s trajectory.
Fortunately, another forward has been heavily rumoured for a move to the Emirates, one who bears a strong comparison to the Newcastle standout: Benjamin Sesko.
Indeed, according to recent reporting from journalist Ben Jacobs, Arsenal have maintained significant interest in the RB Leipzig star.
Jacobs further states that it “looks like they are going to make a bid for Benjamin Sesko.” He notes that while the player has an €80m release clause in his current contract (approximately £67m), Arsenal would “like to negotiate something a little lower.”
While it might be a costly transfer to finalise, Sesko`s impressive talent and future potential make him a target worth pursuing, especially as he could become the club`s answer to Isak.
Why Sesko Could Be Arsenal`s Isak
To be clear, we are not claiming that Sesko is currently as accomplished a striker as Isak.
After all, the Swedish international is arguably one of the best forwards in the game right now, evidenced by his excellent record of 27 goals and six assists in 42 games this season.
However, there are key aspects that suggest signing the Slovenian star could see the Gunners acquiring their own version of the Newcastle phenomenon, perhaps just before he reaches the same elite level.
For instance, the “incredible” Leipzig attacker, as described by The Athletic`s Alex Barker, only turned 22 this season. By comparison, the Toon`s main forward reached that age during the 2021/22 season while playing for Real Sociedad in Spain.
In that 21/22 campaign, Isak recorded a respectable, though not spectacular, ten goals and three assists across 41 appearances, totalling 2761 minutes. This averages out to a goal involvement every 3.15 games, or every 212.38 minutes.
Let`s compare their statistics at a similar career stage:
| Sesko 23/24 vs Isak 21/22 (Stats at age 21/22) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Sesko (23/24) | Isak (21/22) |
| Appearances | 45 | 41 |
| Minutes | 3258` | 2761` |
| Goals | 21 | 10 |
| Assists | 6 | 3 |
| Goal Involvements per Match | 0.6 | 0.31 |
| Minutes per Goal Involvement | 120.66` | 212.38` |
| Stats via Transfermarkt (Note: Sesko`s stats are from 2023/24, Isak`s from 2021/22 when they were both ~22) | ||
In contrast, Arsenal`s current target scored 21 goals and provided six assists in 45 appearances this season, accumulating 3258 minutes. This results in a significantly better average of a goal involvement every 1.66 games or every 120.66 minutes.
Furthermore, just as respected analysts and scouts like Jacek Kulig described the then-Sociedad gem as “simply amazing,” recent commentary, such as from EBL, suggests the former RB Salzburg player “has the potential to become the best #9 in the world.”
Ultimately, while it`s unlikely that Sesko will immediately match Isak`s current level next season, there is a genuine possibility that within a few years, these two strikers could be seen as equals. For this reason, Arsenal should make every effort to sign him this summer.
