It was just after full-time at the Emirates when whispers in the directors’ box turned from celebration to speculation. Arsenal had swept aside another top-six rival, yet board members exchanged knowing looks: Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz were both injured, and a natural number nine was unavoidable this summer. In the days that followed, fans’ wish lists swelled—Alexander Isak! Victor Osimhen!—but inside the club, reality setting in has been swift. As one source put it simply, “Dreams cost money—and two of ours aren’t realistic.”
That source was David Ornstein, speaking on NBC Sports, who confirmed what insiders have long suspected: Arsenal will instead chase Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres or RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko. Those two names have lingered on Mikel Arteta’s shortlist for months, while Isak and Osimhen have quietly slipped off it.
Background: The Search for a Number Nine
Arsenal’s summer window is beginning under unique circumstances. Arteta’s side trail Liverpool by 12 points with four games left, yet they’ll finish second for a third straight season. The absence of a fit, proven centre-forward has galvanized boardroom discussions. Over the past two seasons, Arsenal have relied on false nines or rotating attackers; next term, that experiment must end.
Ornstein’s Striker Update
Speaking this week, Ornstein laid out the parameters clearly:
“Arsenal will also look to strengthen in attack, players such as Viktor Gyokeres of Sporting Lisbon, Benjamin Sesko on the radar. Don’t think Alexander Isak is going to be realistic. Nor the likes of Victor Osimhen and any other names you hear swirling around.” — David Ornstein
Those remarks crystallise Arsenal’s realistic options. Ornstein’s reputation for accuracy lends weight: when he speaks, the market listens.
Gyokeres & Sesko on Arsenal’s Radar
- Viktor Gyokeres (25) has dazzled Portugal for two seasons: 97 apps, 91 goals, 27 assists across all competitions. A physical presence and clinical finisher, he ticks Arteta’s “complete striker” box.
- Benjamin Sesko (20) enjoyed a breakthrough at RB Leipzig this term: 31 Bundesliga apps, 16 goals, 4 assists, and a reported “gentleman’s agreement” allowing a summer exit.
Key Stat Call-Out
- 91 goals & 27 assists: Gyokeres’s Sporting record
- 16 goals: Sesko’s Bundesliga haul in 2024/25
- 0 realistic paths for Isak or Osimhen
H2: Why Isak & Osimhen Are Unlikely
Both Isak and Osimhen carry hefty price tags and wage demands that stretch beyond Arsenal’s current wage structure. Newcastle’s £75 million valuation for Isak and Napoli’s reluctance to negotiate Osimhen’s £100 million release clause combine to make those moves improbable—even for a club ready to invest.
Arsenal’s 2024/25 Premier League Record
| Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 34 | 18 | 13 | 3 | 1.97 |
What’s Next for Arsenal?
With payments due and PSG pirouetting around UCL final concerns, Arteta’s recruitment team faces tough negotiations. Sporting may field multiple bids for Gyokeres, while Leipzig are poised to demand a similar fee for Sesko. Arsenal must move quickly—and smartly—to avoid being priced out.
Which striker would you back for Arsenal: Gyokeres’s proven firepower or Sesko’s exciting potential?
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