Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko: Which striker should Arsenal buy this summer?

You spend so long waiting for a striker and then, when the time finally comes, there is a strong disagreement over which one to target.

From last year, it seemed that RB Leipzig hitman Benjamin Sesko had ranked top of the Arsenal wish-list. The Gunners have done a lot of groundwork on this move and, as per the Athletic, Sesko and the German club secured a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ in June 2024 – Leipzig will cooperate with potential suitors who match his €70m price tag.

But our new Sporting Director, Andrea Berta, is said to favour Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting CP and has reportedly contacted the Portuguese side about striking a deal. Any move for the Swede is expected to cost that same €70m fee.   

Our squad is only big enough for one of them but which player should Arsenal buy? Here, both men are compared across five key traits to help you decide.

Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko: which striker should Arsenal buy this summer?

1. Scoring goals

Right answer = Viktor Gyokeres. Now we can all go home.

Scoring goals is a huge problem for Arsenal and no one does it better than Gyokeres. The 26-year-old hit good numbers in his Coventry days (23 goal contributions in 2021/22; 34 in 2022/23) but he truly exploded after his Lisbon switch, grabbing 123 goal contributions (95 goals and 28 assists) in just 100 games.  

Those crazy numbers owe much to his incredible ball-striking – allowing him to beat even the most well-positioned goalkeepers – as well as his fine ball-carrying skills and electric pace to leave the opposition defence for dead.

Benjamin Sesko boasts a similar, cannon-like right foot (both feet, actually) and the same lightning speed, even if he has failed to reach Gyokeres-like figures (27 goal contributions in 44 matches). He does tend to miss chances and thus, unlike the Swede, has work to do if he is to become a leading European marksman.

Sesko does play in a tougher league though and has the sort of ceiling that makes him very difficult to overlook.

For now, there is only one winner.

Verdict: Viktor Gyokeres

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