Managing Arsenal as Benjamin Sesko vs Viktor Gyokeres call made and deal finally gets done

For a team who know what they need to get Arsenal aren't inspiring confidence with their get up and go so far this summer.

By no means panic stations yet, time is on their side after all. But those who attend the Emirates will be watching Liverpool spend British-record sums and Manchester City land numerous creative stars and wonder when they will make their own statement of intent.

It has been a case of close but no cigar in the Premier League title races over the past three years. Last season was actually Mikel Arteta's worst effort yet since making Arsenal contenders again and if he wants to take the final step the answer is quite clear: sign a striker.

Arsenal have bolstered almost every area of their squad in recent years, but not the engine room of their attack. When Gabriel Jesus signed three years ago people made it clear that whilst he would offer a lot, scoring 20 goals a year was not his modus operandi. That has proved to be true.

And so back to the market the Gunners go. It looks as if it is one from two with Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres identified - the former their preferred option. Negotiations though have hit a roadblock and Arsenal could do without a summer-long saga that centres on wage demands. Beyond anything else, the optics are not great.

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READ MORE: Benjamin Sesko's risky Arsenal demand, transfer rule could be broken, five-year wait

Arsenal could really have done with a smooth, swift signing of a prolific frontman. Ticking that box and allowing them to plan for pre-season knowing that possibly the final piece of the jigsaw was in the building. Instead they remain in dialogue with Sesko, whose demands could scupper the deal. That would leave them eyeing Gyokeres, who would know deep down he was the club's second choice. It all gets a bit messy.

Back the Sporting man

Arsenal have obviously seen something in Sesko that makes him more attractive. Likely his age profile - he is five years younger than Gyokeres. Strikers though often blossom with age, worth remembering. Given the choice I'd also say the Sporting Lisbon man makes more sense as a signing.

His goal record dwarfs what Sesko has been able to achieve thus far. The RB Leipzig man just broke the 20-goal barrier for the first time this year, scoring 21 in total. Gyokeres has scored 97 in his two years. Although the argument can be made that the Swede is playing in a perceived easier league.

But he's also shown what he can do on the Champions League stage and scored six in this year's competition, including a hat-trick against Manchester City. With Sesko there might be more potential but there are also more unknowns.

Zubimendi drags on

It is a theme Arsenal could do without, but another of their long-term targets in Martin Zubimendi was tipped to join weeks ago. Mirror Football reported that the deal was close after the numbers were agreed on, leaving only a medical before the transfer could be completed. Here we are almost a month on and he's still not at the Emirates.

The Real Sociedad star showed himself to be a complete midfielder during last summer's Euros, deputising impressively for Rodri. He would add more class to the Arsenal engine room and potentially prove a quality replacement for Thomas Partey. His contract is winding down and no new deal has yet been agreed, but he could yet remain, giving Arteta even more options.

Real Madrid, now led by Sociedad legend Xabi Alonso, were tipped to make a late effort to sign Zubimendi ahead of Arsenal. That looks to have been avoided with reports a medical was completed last week, but the wait for an announcement continues.

Another of his Spanish team-mates in Nico Williams looks to have rejected the possibility of a move to Arsenal to remain in his homeland. Barcelona are edging closer to a deal. Adding quality on the flanks would be welcome, but when Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli are on form they remain deadly.

That is before you allow for the continued emergence of Ethan Nwaneri and the trusted quality you get from Leandro Trossard. Arsenal's wide forwards will also look immensely different with a major No 9 playing in between them, potentially stretching defences in a way they haven't been when Kai Havertz plays as a false 9. So again, it all rests on getting that striker through the door.

Defence set - but hampers business

One area where Arteta can rest easy is his backline. The two centre-halves pick themselves with William Saliba and Gabriel forming one of Europe's best partnerships. Ben White is a Rolls Royce of a defender, Myles Lewis-Skelly gets better and better whilst Jurrien Timber's flexibility is a huge plus.

Their quality has created some issues in that defenders at other clubs look at the backline and question where their minutes are coming from. It is understood that Marc Guehi would prefer a move to Liverpool over Arsenal amid concerns he wouldn't be able to break up the Saliba-Gabriel partnership. But if you're ever going to have players turn you down, doing so because your XI is so strong, it is about as good a reason as any.

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