Mikel Arteta Explains Why Arsenal Chose Viktor Gyokeres Over Benjamin Sesko

Mikel Arteta has explained Arsenal decision to sign Viktor Gyokeres instead of Benjamin Sesko during the 2025 summer transfer window.

Mikel Arteta has shed light on Arsenal’s 2025 summer transfer choices ahead of the club’s crucial Premier League clash with Manchester United. With Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko both identified as leading striker targets, Arteta explained why Arsenal chose the Swedish forward over the Slovenian talent. That decision has fueled debate, particularly as both players have endured mixed starts to life in England.

Speaking to the media ahead of Arsenal’s Premier League clash with Manchester United, Mikel Arteta offered rare insight into the thinking behind one of the most debated striker calls of his tenure.

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Arsenal entered last summer determined to recruit a reliable number nine following an injury-disrupted campaign for Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz. The club had monitored RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko for over a year and came close to securing the Slovenian international as early as 2024.

However, Sesko hesitated over a move to the Emirates, concerned about competing for minutes, and ultimately committed his future to Leipzig before later joining Manchester United for a higher fee.

Andrea Berta influence shifts Arsenal strategy

The arrival of sporting director Andrea Berta in March 2025 proved decisive. Berta strongly backed Sporting CP striker Viktor Gyokeres, viewing him as a ready-made solution capable of delivering immediate output.

Arsenal agreed a £64 million deal for Gyokeres in late July, prioritising experience and proven productivity. Weeks later, Manchester United completed a £74 million move for Sesko, a sequence that surprised several figures across the transfer market.

Arteta admitted the final decision centred on timing and tactical requirements.

He explained that Arsenal needed a striker who could deliver goals instantly, stretch defensive lines, and offer physical presence against deep-block opponents. Gyokeres’ profile as a powerful, direct centre-forward aligned more closely with those needs.

The Swedish striker’s record — 97 goals in 102 games for Sporting Lisbon — played a major role, while his age and experience suggested quicker adaptation to Premier League demands.

At 22, Benjamin Sesko was seen internally as a high-upside prospect rather than an immediate solution. Arsenal considered him a long-term project, one requiring patience and developmental minutes rather than instant pressure to deliver.

Arteta also highlighted stylistic differences, noting that Gyokeres’ acceleration, mobility, and ability to attack space suited Arsenal’s attacking structure more effectively at the time.

Mixed starts fuel ongoing debate

Six months into the season, scrutiny remains on both players. Gyokeres has scored nine goals in 27 appearances for Arsenal, including a Champions League strike, but has faced criticism for inconsistent link-up play.

Sesko has registered five goals in 19 matches for Manchester United, largely from rotational starts, as he continues to adapt to English football.

Arteta, however, insists it is too early to judge Gyokeres definitively, pointing to the league’s physical demands and evolving team dynamics.

The decision now stands as a classic “sliding doors” moment. Had Arsenal waited for Sesko, Gyokeres may have joined United instead, while Arsenal pursued a longer-term project.

Instead, both strikers now face their alternative futures head-on as Arsenal and Manchester United prepare to meet, each eager to justify their club’s faith.

For Arteta, the choice reflected urgency over potential — a calculated gamble that may yet define Arsenal’s season.

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