Arsenal legend makes Arteta and Sesko claim as striker search stalls: ‘A choice’
An Arsenal legend has made a bold claim about Gunners boss Mikel Arteta and his search for a new striker this summer.
Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres are two of the names linked with a move to the Emirates this summer as Arteta looks to bolster his attacking options.
The Spaniard was forced to start midfielder Mikel Merino up front on numerous occasions in the latter part of the season due to injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
Injuries to key players, alongside a lack of squad depth, meant it was another season of missed opportunities for the North London club.
Arsenal haven’t won the Premier League title since the Invincibles in 2003/04 but Arteta is looking at addressing that this summer, although a former legend believes it has been ‘a choice’ from the manager to not sign a top goal scorer.
O’Leary makes striker verdict
Former Gunners defender David O’Leary claimed Arteta has ‘chosen to go a different way’ with his reluctance to sign a striker.
Speaking to talkSPORT (19 June) O’Leary stated: “I don’t think Mikel is being denied a number nine, I think Mikel has chosen to go a different way by playing a false nine with Havertz dropping into midfield.
“I don’t think he’s being denied buying a centre forward, I think what has come home to roost is that they really need a number nine now and they are definitely in the market for it.”
O’Leary, who made a club record 722 appearances for Arsenal, believes RB Leipzig striker Sesko is Arteta’s number one choice.
“It smells to me like the number one choice is Sesko and they are trying to keep the lad [Gyokeres] on board from Sporting Lisbon,” O’Leary said.
“To me they are juggling these two, and Sesko looks to me like the one they really fancy.”
| Player | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
| Sesko | 45 | 21 | 6 |
| Gyokeres | 52 | 54 | 13 |
Pressure mounted to sign striker after daunting fixtures released
Football Insider verdict
With the Premier League fixtures revealing a difficult start to the season for Arsenal with trips to Man United and Liverpool, either side of a home game against promoted Leeds, it looks even more pivotal now that Arteta gets a deal done quickly for either Sesko or Gyokeres.
If the Gunners are left playing catch up in the title race early doors because of their inability to sign a proven goal scorer, then Arteta will have to take the blame.
Going to Old Trafford without a new striker on the opening day of the season would be a failure on the clubs part.
Havertz scored just nine goals last season, whilst Jesus’ injury problems saw him net just three times in the Premier League last campaign.
Whilst Liverpool have agreed a deal for Florian Wirtz, and Man City are freshening up their squad ahead of a title challenge it looks so far that Arsenal are standing still.
The difference between winning the title next season or missing out on silverware again will all be decided by this transfer window.