For weeks now, there has been a fire burning quietly behind the scenes at Arsenal. A transfer mission so intense, so calculated, and so emotional, that it could define not just the future of the club—but also the legacy of those involved.
It all started at the heart of London Colney, inside the office of Arsenal’s technical and sporting directors. There, Edu Gaspar and sporting director Andrea Berta sat with a clear mission from manager Mikel Arteta: Bring in a new striker. A powerful one. A relentless one. A striker who could finally fill the shoes that once belonged to Thierry Henry, Robin van Persie, and most recently Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Arsenal, after another season of heartbreak in the Premier League title race, knew they needed something different. Something more. Gabriel Jesus had done his best. Kai Havertz had stepped in at times. Even Leandro Trossard had chipped in with goals. But it wasn’t enough. If Arsenal wanted to beat Manchester City and finally lift the Premier League trophy, they needed a monster up front. A striker who could bully defenders, score goals from nothing, and lead the line with pride.
Andrea Berta, who had built a reputation at Atletico Madrid for his clever negotiations, was now leading Arsenal’s search. And the first name to enter serious conversations was Viktor Gyokeres—the Swedish powerhouse who had just set Portugal on fire with his performances at Sporting CP.
Gyokeres was not just any striker. He was a beast. Fast, strong, clever with his movement, and deadly in front of goal. In just one season with Sporting, he had scored over 40 goals in all competitions and had fans comparing him to the likes of Zlatan Ibrahimovic. It was no surprise that Arsenal had made him their number one priority.
But that wasn’t all. Berta also had one eye on Benjamin Sesko, the young Slovenian striker from RB Leipzig. At just 21 years old, Sesko was tall, skillful, and had the potential to become one of the best in Europe. Arsenal had been watching him closely for months and even held several meetings with his representatives.
Related Posts:
Between Gyokeres and Sesko, Arsenal knew they had two excellent choices. One was a proven goalscorer in his prime. The other was a rising star with sky-high potential. The question was: Who would be easier to get? Who would fit Arteta’s system better? Who would cost less? Initially, it seemed like Sesko might be the one. Talks with RB Leipzig were progressing, and the player himself seemed open to a move to North London. But then everything changed.
As the weeks went by, it became clearer that Arsenal were leaning toward Gyokeres. Arteta was reportedly obsessed with his profile. The idea of having a striker who could run in behind, hold up the ball, and press with energy was exactly what he wanted. Gyokeres ticked every box.
Andrea Berta then switched his full focus to making the Gyokeres deal happen. He opened discussions with Sporting CP, spoke to the player’s agents, and even travelled to Portugal to meet with club officials. Things were moving fast. Arsenal fans were already dreaming of seeing Gyokeres in the famous red and white shirt. The excitement was building. But then… everything slowed down.In the past week or so, talks between Arsenal and Sporting started to stall. The issue? The price tag.
Sporting wanted the full release clause—reportedly around €100 million. Arsenal, as usual, didn’t want to pay that much up front. They hoped to negotiate a lower fee with add-ons. But Sporting were firm. They weren’t interested in negotiating. For them, it was simple: either pay the release clause or walk away.
This created tension. Arsenal, already frustrated with how drawn-out the Moisés Caicedo and Mykhailo Mudryk sagas had been in the past, didn’t want to get dragged into another exhausting transfer drama. They wanted clarity. They wanted progress. But Sporting were playing hardball. Rumours began to surface that the deal might collapse altogether. Some journalists suggested Arsenal were losing patience. Others claimed that Gyokeres himself might not push for the move unless progress was made soon. It felt like things were slipping out of Arsenal’s hands.
Fans, desperate for good news, started panicking. Social media was flooded with questions: “Is the Gyokeres deal off?” “Are we going back for Sesko?” “Why do we always mess up transfers?” But just when it seemed like everything was falling apart, the man everyone trusts in the transfer world—Fabrizio Romano—stepped in.
In his trademark “Here we go” style, Romano addressed the fears last week. He made it clear that, despite the delays, the deal was not dead. In fact, he insisted that a deal for Viktor Gyokeres was “absolutely not off” and that talks were still ongoing
That one sentence brought hope back to the Arsenal fanbase. Romano’s update reminded everyone that transfers like this are complicated. There are ups and downs. Delays and breakthroughs. But if the player wants the move, and the club remains determined, then there’s always a chance.
Indeed, behind the scenes, Arsenal were still pushing. Andrea Berta was working around the clock to find a compromise with Sporting. Edu had also become more involved, using his South American network and negotiation style to ease tensions. Arteta remained in constant contact with the striker’s camp, making sure Gyokeres knew he was wanted.
The club’s strategy now was to test Sporting’s resolve. Arsenal were hoping that the Portuguese giants would eventually soften their stance, especially if Gyokeres made it clear he wanted to leave. There were whispers that the player himself was open to joining Arsenal and had even told his inner circle that he was excited by the project.
Still, time was ticking. The Premier League season was fast approaching, and Arsenal needed to finalise their squad quickly. They had already made progress in other areas of the pitch, signing a midfielder and a backup full-back. But without a new striker, their attack still felt incomplete.
On one hand, they could wait it out, keep pushing for Gyokeres, and hope that Sporting eventually lowers their demands. On the other hand, they could reignite talks with RB Leipzig for Benjamin Sesko, who is still available and could be a cheaper alternative. Sesko, for his part, remains on Arsenal’s list. He has not signed a new contract with Leipzig, and other clubs are circling too. Manchester United and Chelsea have shown interest, but Arsenal still have the advantage of having started talks early.
The big decision now lies with Arteta and the board. Do they go all-in for Gyokeres, potentially spending £85-90 million to get him? Or do they switch to Sesko and take a gamble on his potential rather than proven goals? Whatever the outcome, one thing is clear: Arsenal are serious about signing a striker this summer. They’ve studied their options, made their plans, and are ready to strike.
For now, Gyokeres remains the top target. The player is reportedly impressed with the Arsenal project, loves the idea of playing in the Premier League, and has even started learning English to prepare for a move. If the deal does go through, it could be one of the biggest signings of the summer window. Gyokeres would bring power, speed, and goals—exactly what Arsenal need to win the league.
But if it fails, Arsenal must be ready to act fast. They can’t afford to waste the whole summer chasing one player. That’s why Sesko remains on standby. And who knows? There may even be a surprise name in the background that Berta and Edu are keeping secret. Transfer windows are like chess games. One wrong move and everything falls apart. But one smart decision, and you can change your entire season.
For Arsenal, this striker chase is not just about signing a player. It’s about ambition. It’s about showing the world that they are ready to compete at the very top. It’s about giving Mikel Arteta the final piece of the puzzle he’s been building since 2019. The next few days will be crucial. Sporting will either give in, or Arsenal will walk away. Gyokeres will either become the next star at the Emirates—or just another “what could have been. But one thing is certain: Arsenal fans will be watching every update, every tweet from Fabrizio Romano, every whisper from the training ground. Because the striker hunt is on. And the Gunners are ready to fire.
