Arsenal beat Tottenham 2-1 at the Emirates (Image: GETTY)
were reminded of a striker who could be perfect for them this month during their 2-1 win over arch-rivals on Wednesday night.
While the Gunners were battling Spurs hard in the north London derby at the Emirates to move four points behind leaders , Benjamin Sesko scored again – in a fifth successive Bundesliga game – in RB Leipzig’s loss at Stuttgart.
Just three days after his outrageous long-range strike against Werder Bremen, the Slovenian striker scored his 13th goal of the season – in his 25th appearance – at the Neckarstadion. That return is despite Leipzig being underwhelming this season by their standards.
And Sesko could be exactly the man need before the January transfer window closes on February 3. It’s clear in order for ‘s team to become perennial trophy winners they require a predatory goalscorer.
has proven, despite his qualities, that he is not that. Even their former players think so.
Benjamin Sesko scored again for RB Leipzig away at Stuttgart (Image: GETTY)
Theo Walcott told Sport this week: ” need a striker at this time because it would have been a completely different story (in the FA Cup against ).
” have gone from being a free-flowing forward line, exciting the crowd, to going a bit stale at the Emirates. You need players to do something differently and they haven’t got that at the moment.”
Sesko would offer just that. A 6ft 5ins centre-forward with eye-catching ball-striking, great movement, aerial dominance and surprising pace given his height, he looks physically and technically ready for the rigours of the .
Former manager , who this month started work as GmbH’s head of global soccer, has given the striker his seal of approval.
The German said of the two-footed attacker at a press conference on Tuesday: “He’s a good player. I’ve actually known him for a while, I knew him already when he was at Salzburg.
“I think we played a friendly game here when he was very, very young. I was really impressed, I thought, ‘Where do they get all these players?’ Ridiculous.”
Benjamin Sesko is enjoying a strong season for RB Leipzig (Image: GETTY)
Sesko is also still just 21, only turning 22 on May 31, and has never suffered a serious injury. Alexander Isak is the dream signing and scored twice for against Wolves at the same time as the north London derby.
But would demand well over £100m, likely nearer to £150m, for the on-fire Swede either this month or in summer. Isak is also, unfortunately, prone to injuries. A January deal for the 25-year-old looks impossible to do.
And with and Gabriel Jesus out for the long term, need attacking reinforcements instantly. Especially with suffering a recent wobble in the title race and offering hope of catching them between now and late May.
The rate Sesko’s transfer value at £98million (€116.6m). But it’s also been speculated a fee of £58m (€70m) could test Leipzig’s resolve this month.
Sesko is a long-term target in north London and a summer move seems more probable. But a January deal certainly isn’t impossible, particularly with Leipzig already out of the lucrative Champions League.
Given his form for Leipzig and his high ceiling, Sesko could be the ideal short-term – and long-term – addition as Arteta looks to transform from nearly men into champions.