Report: Arsenal Set To Pivot Following Sesko Snub

By The Editor
on 19th June 2024

Arsenal are now said to be focusing on midfield…

Arsenal are reportedly set to pivot from their initial transfer plan this summer after top target Benjamin Sesko decided to stay at RB Leipzig and sign a new contract, The Athletic reports.

Sesko had a €65 million release clause in his previous contract which made him an attractive proposition to Europe’s top clubs who viewed the Slovenian as the next best centre-forward.

A striker was deemed a priority for Arsenal this summer, however, Kai Havertz’s form in the final few months in that position has surely affected those plans.

The fact that Arteta was targeting a young central striker who wouldn’t necessarily claim a starting position leads to the thinking that he sees Havertz as our main target man.

According to the report, Sesko being off the table doesn’t mean Arsenal will now look for another central striker, with the club instead focusing on midfield.

Havertz’s move up front has left a gaping hole in Arteta’s ‘left-8’ position which the German was intended to fill following the departure of Granit Xhaka.

Declan Rice deputised in the position for the latter part of the season and performed admirably, but we missed the England star’s qualities as an anchor man.

Arsenal conceded a combined number of 29 shots in our final two away games of the campaign with Thomas Partey as a holding midfielder. Those numbers were unheard of for us throughout the season.

If we can find a technically secure midfielder that can dovetail with Rice, though predominantly allow the 25-year-old to sit as a No.6 – we’ll go a long way to improving as a team.

In terms of names, someone like Inter’s Nicolo Barella would be a perfect profile…