Arsenal continue to scour the striker market with mounting pressure to find the right name. The club has made no secret of its intention to sign a reliable forward who can make a difference in tight games, where the lack of a pure finisher has cost them points. Although names like Benjamin Sesko have been on the list for months, Viktor Gyokeres has emerged as a stronger contender in recent weeks. His performance in Portugal, full of goals and character, has caught the attention of north London, where they feel his profile may be a better fit than other alternatives.
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According to Record, the Gunners have intensified contacts to sign Gyokeres and a meeting has already taken place between Andrea Berta, the club’s sporting director, and the Swedish striker’s entourage. Although Arsenal are also in talks with RB Leipzig for Sesko, it is not entirely clear which of the two is the chosen one.
Gyokeres has expressed his desire to leave Sporting CP after an alleged breach of the informal agreement that would have facilitated his departure this summer. Sporting, who initially accepted a figure close to €65 million, are now demanding €80 million, and that is where Arsenal’s competitive and financial pull could make the difference.
Opinion:
The debate over whether Gyokeres should be Arsenal’s main target cannot be settled with a single statistic, but there are clear signs. The Swede is more accomplished than Sesko. He is 27 years old, coming off a brutal season in Portugal with goals of all kinds, and is physically dominant. Arteta needs a striker who can perform from the first weekend of the Premier League.
Sesko still seems like a project with potential, not an immediate guarantee. Gyokeres is more direct, aggressive, and vertical. He is the type of striker who elevates a team with real title aspirations. At €80 million, the price seems inflated, but the market has made it clear that decisive strikers do not come cheap. If Sporting are asking for that, it is because they know that two English giants are ready to bid. In that context, Arsenal must decide whether it wants to pay more for someone with proven performance or take less of a risk on a player who still needs to be polished.
The Gunners’ presence in the Champions League works in their favour. It is a showcase that the Swede can hardly ignore. Manchester United, out of that competition, starts at a disadvantage. Arteta’s project is more solid, has continuity and a more cohesive squad. If the goal is to convince the player, the sporting context tips the balance towards the Emirates. The only barrier is financial. If Kroenke approves the investment, Gyokeres could land in London as the number 9 they have been looking for. In short, if Arsenal prioritise the immediate, Gyokeres makes more sense than Sesko.
