Arteta reveals why Arsenal passed on Manchester United’s striker

Mikel Arteta shares for the first time the context and professional criteria behind Arsenal’s key decision regarding their attack during the summer transfer window.

During the summer transfer window, Arsenal faced two notable options for their forward line: Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres. Both were highly rated, but after thorough analysis, the North London club’s management chose to spend £64 million to sign Gyokeres from Sporting CP.

Benjamin Sesko later also joined the Premier League when Manchester United reached a £73.7 million deal with RB Leipzig. The presence of both strikers in the Premier League sparked ongoing comparisons, especially as both Arsenal and Man United needed a striker capable of making an immediate impact.

Statistically, Gyokeres has scored 9 goals in 27 appearances for Arsenal this season, while Sesko has netted 5 goals in 19 matches for Manchester United. Despite this, the Swedish forward has faced considerable criticism, with Michael Owen even suggesting Arsenal might already be considering alternatives to their summer signing.

In response to these doubts, Metro reported that Coach Mikel Arteta reaffirmed Arsenal’s full confidence in their decision. He explained: “In the end, we had to make a decision, and we believe Victor was the best choice given our circumstances. The qualities we lacked at number 9, especially with Gabby and Kai sidelined for many, many months, and we’re very happy to have him.”

Arteta also emphasized that Arsenal’s striker selection criteria go beyond reputation or age. He clarified: “First and foremost, goals. Someone who can guarantee you goals. We know that’s never absolute, but then a player who is very direct, very strong, a true ‘number 9’ who can stretch defenses.”

According to the Spanish coach, Gyokeres meets the tactical requirements Arsenal currently needs, especially in matches against teams that defend deep. “He’s someone who always has the hunger to score and can help us stretch the field better, particularly against certain opponents,” Arteta added.

However, Arteta remains cautious in his overall assessment of Gyokeres’s season. He concluded: “It’s still too early to judge. Let’s evaluate at the end of the season. There are many factors to consider when assessing a player, not just one aspect of a match.”