With Sesko quoted €100m, Arsenal close in on Gyokeres | OneFootball

It’s been a few years now where Arsenal have just fallen short of the league title, with a lack of strikers being the main reason that pundits point to. There hasn’t been too much movement towards a striker, particularly after acquiring Havertz. That is, until now…

While Arsenal have already got a lot of early business done with Martin Zubimendi done, along with a backup keeper and midfielder, there has been nonstop rumours of signing a forward. The shortlist was two top players: Sesko and Gyokeres.

For weeks, the focus seemed to be squarely on RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, a prodigious young talent with a high ceiling. However, it seems that not only does Gyokeres seem more personally excited about a potential Arsenal move, but Sesko was simply too expensive.

The €100m sesko saga

Gunning for Benjamin Sesko was a logical starting point and it looks like Arsenal certainly tried. RB Leipzig’s valuation has recently been claimed to be between €94m and €122m, along with an insistence on a prohibitive payment structure (€40m upfront) has been a step too far for Arsenal.

Arsenal grew frustrated with the slow pace of negotiations and, keen to avoid a drawn-out saga, actively shifted strategy.

The club now appears to have reached an agreement on personal terms. As these big signings shift the perception on the title race, fans look to platforms like BetMGM bonus code to follow the latest odds on player moves (and to get in early with value bets).

The final hurdle remains the fee structure with Sporting, who are seeking a total package in the region of £60m, a figure Arsenal believes is more manageable - particularly with other attacking targets on their radar. The decision, in the end, is to opt for a battle-hardened striker over a more expensive prospect.

Gyokeres the "mentality monster"

Viktor Gyokeres's path to the top has been unconventional, a bit like Arsenal legend Ian Wright. He’s forged his own path late on and it’s led to a reputation as a "mentality monster."

After signing for Brighton in 2018, he struggled to break into the first team, making no league appearances and heading off on loan spells at St. Pauli and Swansea. A permanent move to Coventry City in the Championship was what began his momentum. There, he scored 40 goals over two seasons and proved his mettle in a physically demanding league (something that will become highly relevant in the Premier League).

His €24m move to Sporting Lisbon saw him explode, producing a staggering 43 goals and 15 assists in his debut season. This prolific form silenced any doubts about his ability to perform at a higher level. Despite already being mid-20s at this point, he proved that anything he lacks in naturally gifted talent, he makes up for in physicality.

His professional career hasn’t come easy, and Gyokeres does not act like a big fish in a small pond over in Portugal. Rather, he battles every game with an extremely impressive work ethic, and his pressing is something that will inspire Arteta. An unshakeable self-belief and persistence has led to this moment - a moment where he himself is so clearly pushing for an Arsenal move, knowing that fighting for a Premier League title is how he wants to spend his prime years.

A new era under Berta

The decisive pivot towards Gyokeres is seen as one of the first significant actions influenced by incoming sporting director Andrea Berta. While club staff rated both Sesko and Gyokeres highly, Berta’s preference was reportedly for the Swedish striker.

While Edu signed some great talent (and even helped set up the Zubimendi deal), he was criticised for overpaying. Berta appears more economical, and was even reportedly playing both striker negotiations at once to ensure he has the upper hand.

Favouring the 27-year-old "finished article" over the 22-year-old Sesko says that Berta wants two things: To win the league this upcoming season and that he has other targets. It is a pragmatic choice, and in the eyes of most fans, a good value, fair  deal.

What Gyokeres brings to Arsenal

Tactically, Gyokeres offers a new dimension that Arsenal's attack has clearly lacked. He is a physical, powerful and direct No. 9 who is capable of acting as a focal point. A bit like Giroud, he has the hold-up play and ability to create for others.

Let’s not forget, though, that his primary currency is his clinical finishing and intelligent movement inside the penalty area. While it’s a weaker league, scoring over 40 goals in a season isn’t easy. Instead of having a fluid and interchangeable front line, Arsenal will set up with a reliable presence in the center - an outlet for quick counterattacks, and someone in the box to add to the team’s already-impressive ability to score from set pieces.