Arsenal knew going into the summer 2024 transfer window that their biggest need, by far, was at the No. 9 position. For years, Arsenal have struggled to find a consistent goal-scoring striker ever since the abrupt decline of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Gabriel Jesus has been a great all-around forward, and Kai Havertz offers similar benefits as a center forward. But neither can reliably put away their chances, and juxtaposed with Manchester City’s record-breaking striker Erling Haaland, the difference becomes decisive in a tight Premier League title race
Arsenal fans had faith that their club would address this most pressing need, but, instead, they waffled, with their only attacking signing being the addition of declining Premier League veteran Raheem Sterling.
RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko was widely viewed as the Gunners’ preferred option at striker, and he checked off a lot of boxes with his future upside, elite finishing chops, and gargantuan box presence.
According to a report from the Daily Mail’s Sami Mokbel, Arsenal were unable to sign Sesko because the young forward was worried that he wouldn’t start over Kai Havertz, since the club could not guarantee the 21-year-old minutes over the German international.
It’s a nugget that will likely be met with frustrating by the Arsenal faithful, given Sesko is exactly the profile the Gunners have been craving and that he and Havertz play very different roles.
Arsenal could have easily accommodated the two players, and, if given the choice, the fans would have gladly taken a real striker starting instead of having, essentially, two attacking midfielders on the pitch in Martin Odegaard and Havertz.
Clearly, Havertz is a talented player with his benefits, but for Arsenal to balk on signing their top transfer target at striker in order to keep playing Havertz at the 9 is a notion that is absurd.
But it is, unfortunately, believable, because it is falling in line with the recent, puzzling decisions this club has made as they continue to struggle to get real silverware over the line for its long-suffering and incredibly loyal fanbase.
