The upcoming season is crucial for Arsenal.
Following consecutive second-place finishes, Mikel Arteta`s team is highly motivated to finally secure the Premier League title next season.
The club`s hierarchy seems equally eager, with transfer speculation intensifying in recent weeks, notably regarding Crystal Palace`s Eberechi Eze.
Recent reports indicate Arsenal have identified their primary attacking target. This player, distinct from Viktor Gyokeres, is someone the Crystal Palace star would likely enjoy playing with.
Arsenal`s Striker Search
While Arsenal are working on strengthening multiple positions this summer, signing a new striker is arguably their most critical piece of business.
The club seems to share this view, given the numerous talented forwards they`ve been linked with recently.
Domestically, there have been suggestions of renewed interest in Ollie Watkins, whom they reportedly missed out on in the winter transfer window.
However, Viktor Gyokeres has been even more strongly rumoured for a move to the Emirates.
The Sporting CP forward has reportedly agreed personal terms with the North London club, but this might not lead to a transfer, as Arsenal`s top priority appears to be a different player entirely.
This is supported by a recent TEAMtalk report, which highlights Arsenal`s significant interest in Benjamin Sesko.
According to the report, the RB Leipzig star is their prime striker target. However, RB Leipzig`s £80m valuation exceeds Arsenal`s willingness to pay more than £60m, leading Arsenal to set a deadline of mid-July for the potential signing.
Securing this transfer will likely be complex and expensive, but Sesko is seen as a valuable acquisition and a potentially excellent partner for Eze.
Why Eze Will Love Sesko
Eze would likely appreciate playing alongside Sesko for several reasons, with his impressive goal contribution being the most notable.
For instance, despite being only 21 at the beginning of last season, the Slovenian international remarkably scored 21 goals and registered six assists in 45 matches, accumulating only 3258 minutes on the pitch.
This means the player, described as `exceptional` by analyst Ben Mattinson, averaged a goal or assist every 1.66 games, or every 120.66 minutes. This is particularly impressive considering his team`s overall performance was reportedly below that of previous years.
Imagine how much more impactful the Palace midfielder could be playing behind or alongside such a prolific striker, especially given he managed 25 goal involvements in 43 appearances last season playing with Jean-Philippe Mateta, who recorded 17 goals and four assists in 46 matches.
Another reason the English midfielder would likely enjoy playing with the Leipzig forward is his ability to cause significant problems for opposition defenders.
The former RB Salzburg player is 6 feet 5 inches tall, can reach speeds of 35.69 km/h, ranked in the top 8% of Bundesliga forwards for successful take-ons last season (according to FBref), and can score with his head, from distance, and from within the penalty area.
In summary, he`s developing into a remarkably well-rounded striker. His presence would likely occupy defenders more, creating additional space for the talented former QPR player to exploit.
