As each day goes by, it seems to be becoming more likely that Benjamin Sesko will be Arsenal's high-profile signing of the summer. The 21-year-old will have huge pressure on him should he arrive in North London. He will be expected to lead the line and take the Gunners to their first Premier League title in over 20 years.

Considering this, would the Slovenian be their best option? We’ll examine what makes the youngster enticing for Mikel Arteta’s side, and the alternatives if the deal collapses.

One quick caveat: Alexander Isak hasn't been discussed here due to Newcastle United's insistence that he is not for sale. Should this change, Stan Kroenke should throw the kitchen sink at bringing the Swede to the Emirates.

Why Arsenal Want Sesko

Before looking at Arsenal's alternative striker options, it's worth taking a look at why Sesko seems to be their first priority. The Slovenian has attracted attention from most of Europe - but it's the Gunners who are knocking on RB Leipzig's door the loudest.

At just 21, Sesko produced 13 goals and 5 assists in the Bundesliga this season. Not mind-blowing by any stretch, but his explosive pace, raw strength and absolute power have been evident in spades. Leipzig's difficult season - finishing seventh in the Bundesliga - has meant that they have struggled controlling games in a way Sesko would likely enjoy. To an extent, he's been feeding off scraps.

Sesko's 2024/25 Bundesliga shotmap - only showing shots from open play. Image from Understat.

Key Stats

• 13 Bundesliga 2024/25 Goals
• 1.68 Progressive Carries per 90 (top 23%)
• 45.1% Shots on Target (top 19%)**
• 0.34 Shot-Creating Actions by Take-On per 90 (top 12%)
• 1.33 Successful Take-Ons per 90 (top 11%)
• 58% Aerial Duel Win Rate (top 4%)
• 17.3 Yards Average Shot Distance (bottom 8%)

All Stats Shown From FBRef. Percentiles taken from a comparison with the top 5 European Leagues over the past year.

This is indicated by the fact he had just 68 shots in the league this season. By comparison, Alexander Isak had 99. What's also interesting is that 25 of these efforts came from outside the box - a very un-Arsenal location to shoot from. His link-up play also leaves a bit to be desired. The Slovenian has offered just 1.55 progressive passes per 90 this season - which puts him in the bottom half of all forwards in Europe's top five leagues.

So why do Arsenal even want Sesko? It's pretty clear he's not the complete package yet and there is very little evidence to suggest he would be confident working in tight spaces as any Arsenal striker will have to. He almost certainly isn't the best player that will feature on this list.

The answer isn't entirely clear. Mikel Arteta has never been the most predictable manager, but what he wants from a centre-forward remains a complete mystery. At 6'4" and powerfully built, what Sesko definitely offers is a physical profile that could dominate Premier League defences. The striker also boasts a unique combination of 1.33 successful take-ons per 90 (top 10% in Europe's top five leagues) and a 58% aerial duel win rate (top 4%) - so not only is he able to beat his man, but he is able to impose himself aerially.

🔴👀⏳ pic.twitter.com/lPAIyVfpGz

— Benjamin Sesko (@BSesko_) June 1, 2025

One of the biggest factors for Arsenal's interest though, will be his age. At 21, Sesko is still a fairly raw talent - one that Arteta may see as one he can coach into being a world-class forward that his team needs. It is likely the mix of talent and coachability that puts the Slovenian so high on the Gunners' list of transfer priorities.

Viktor Gyokeres

Sporting's talisman has been covered in such depth by just about everyone that he's not going to get a full feature here.

The Swedish powerhouse is regarded as the closest thing to a guarantee as is possible in a potential transfer. He blitzed his way the Liga Portugal golden boot with 39 goals and at 26 years old, is entering the peak years of his career.

Gyokeres is ruthless one vs one - both in terms of dribbling past defenders and when through on goal. He has demonstrated a tendency to make piercing runs from the left - both with and without the ball - and prove nearly impossible to stop for opposition defenders. He is physically imposing, ruthless and used to being 'the guy' for his club.

Key Stats

• 39 Liga Portugal 2024/25 Goals
• 4.08 Shots per 90 (top 1%)
• 4.94 Shot-Creating Actions per 90 (top 1%)
• 1.93 Successful Take-Ons per 90 (top 2%)
• 10.75 Progressive Passes Received per 90 (top 1%)
• 4.27 Progressive Carries per 90 (top 1%)

All Stats Shown From FBRef. It's worth noting that Gyokeres' percentiles are compared to all European leagues due to Portugal not falling in Europe's top five.

The one question mark to his name is how he would cope against a high-quality low-block. Sporting's absolute dominance in the league means that the Swede receives chance after chance to get on the ball and make a difference. With Portugal being a lower quality league than the Premier League, it remains to be seen how he would cope breaking down defences designed specifically to stop him.

No one has contacted Sporting Lisbon for Viktor Gyokeres. Many interested, none of them are willing to negotiate €70m. (via @edu17burgos) pic.twitter.com/M0wjTP5T1E

— ChelsTransfer (@ChelsTransfer) June 2, 2025

Arsenal have long been linked with Gyokeres but a preference for Sesko does seem to have emerged for one reason or another. Should a deal with Leipzig fall through, the Gunners could well find themselves with a better player on their hands.

Mateo Retegui

Only one player in Europe scored ten goals with each foot as well as five headers this season. No points for guessing who it is: Mateo Retegui.

Despite winning the Serie A golden boot, Retegui has gone under the radar as an option for any club in pursuit of a striker this summer. The 26-year-old could be looking at a third transfer move in three seasons as the Argentine-born Italian is reportedly being considered by a number of top clubs - but his name doesn't seem to be coming up in discussions at Arsenal at the moment.

And that's a real shame.

When he arrived at Atalanta in 2024, the big question mark over Retegui was whether his ability to link-up play was going to be enough for Gian Piero Gasperini. The forward had previously been deemed a conservative striker not technically strong enough to compete at the very highest level. This season, Retegui has maintained his ruthless finishing ability and poacher's instinct but also added a great deal of finesse and subtlety to his game. Neat backheels, one-twos in tight spaces, and a tidy first-touch have all been added to his skillset - and this all helped him win the golden boot by six goals, while also developing him into one of Europe's most complete strikers.

Retegui's 2024/25 Serie A shotmap - only showing shots from open play. Image from Understat.

Key Stats

• 25 Serie A 2024/25 Goals
• • 8 Serie A 2024/25 Assists
• 0.59 Goals per Shot on Target per 90 (top 4%)
• 0.57 Non-Penalty xG per 90 (top 13%)
• 7.59 Progressive Passes Received per 90 (top 6%)
• 1.34 Key Passes per 90 (top 16%)
• 2.32 Shot-Creating Actions Through A Live-Ball Pass per 90 (top 10%)

All Stats Shown From FBRef. Percentiles taken from a comparison with the top 5 European Leagues over the past year.

The stats above paint a fair picture of Retegui: clinical, great at receiving in space and able to create when in the position to. But arguably the biggest tick on Retegui's profile is that he seems highly-motivated and eager to learn. He developed massively under Gasperini, which is a sign that he would be equally able to adapt to whatever Arteta wants from his strikers.

Most Goals in their debut season for a Serie A club.

Luca Toni(2005-06)- 31.
Hernan Crespo(2000-01)- 26.
Edi Cavani(2010-11)- 26.
Mateo Retegui(2024-25)- 25.

Among the elites. pic.twitter.com/l192fb2qHQ

— Retegui Muse (@don_gasperini) June 2, 2025

The one orange flag? Rasmus Hojlund.

The Dane can't seem to catch a break at the moment, but Hojlund's underwhelming output and performances could be one factor putting some clubs off Retegui this summer, despite the fact that the two are very different players.

Hojlund's £64 million failure at Manchester United may have made clubs wary of buying players who have thrived in Atalanta's unique system - but Retegui does appear to be adaptable enough to thrive wherever he goes.

Hugo Ekitike

Until Liam Delap was revealed as Chelsea's millionth signing of the Todd Boehly era last week, Hugo Ekitike was strongly linked with the Blues. In light of Delap's Ipswich departure, Hugo Ekitike has reemerged as a forward very much on the market - although discussions with West London do seem to be ongoing.

The 22-year-old produced15 goals and 8 assists for Eintracht Frankfurt this season and showed the world that he is a star in the making. His lightning quick feet and proclivity for a fast-break has seen him produce 21.6 xG in the Bundesliga - and clubs will be hoping that his finishing rates will improve with his age.

Hugo Ekitike has 34 G/A in 48 Matches this Season. #LFC pic.twitter.com/ZHc45OCXST

— . (@LiverpoolSystem) May 28, 2025

The Frenchman had 117 shots in the league (almost double Sesko's tally), so his ability to beat a defender and release a shot cannot be understated. His high volume of shots in central areas and inside the box are indicative of an ability to be in the right place at the right time.

Ekitike's 2024/25 Bundesliga shotmap - only showing shots from open play. Image from Understat.

Key Stats

• 15 Bundesliga 2024/25 Goals
• 8 Bundesliga 2024/25 Assists
• 3.74 Shots per 90 (top 7%)
• 3.04 Progressive Carries per 90 (top 4%)
• 1.90 Successful Take-Ons per 90 (top 4%)
• 6.73 Touches in Opposition Box per 90 (top 6%)
• 7.53 Progressive Passes Received per 90 (top 9%)
• 3.50 Shot-Creating Actions per 90 (top 6%)
• 1.6 Key Passes per 90 (top 5%)

All Stats Shown From FBRef. Percentiles taken from a comparison with the top 5 European Leagues over the past year.

For such a young forward, the talent Ekitike demonstrated this season is nothing shy of phenomenal. He showed his ability to work an angle in small spaces, exemplified a typical 'poacher's instinct' so many clubs yearn for and shown a great understanding of Dino Toppmoller's complex system.

Frankfurt were 'the most transitional' team in the Bundesliga this season - among the European teams with the most fast-breaks across the campaign. This suited Ekitike perfectly: the Frenchman enjoyed having so much space in behind and having the license to drive at defences. It's likely that should he go to a club with a possession-heavy focus (like Arsenal), he would struggle initially - but would be able to adapt.

Ollie Watkins

When Arsenal submitted a bid for Ollie Watkins towards the end of the January transfer window, it was met with mixed reaction. On one hand, he is a Premier League proven striker who would bring goals. On the other, he isn't technically complete, and at 29, wouldn't have been a long-term solution.

As a result of this, it seems exceedingly unlikely that we'll see the London-born striker in red next season. Despite his track record and almost unmatched talent for a run and first-touch finish, Watkins lacks some of the high-ceiling explosiveness that Arsenal appear to prioritise.

His 16 goals and 8 assists in the Premier League this season are evidence enough of him being the ultimate poacher - and if Arsenal had signed him in January, there is a very strong argument that the title race would have been far closer.

Watkins' 2024/25 Premier League shot map - only showing shots from open play. Image from Understat.

Key Stats

• 16 Premier League 2024/25 Goals
• 8 Premier League 2024/25 Assists
• 1.20 Carries Into Penalty Area per 90 (top 13%)
• 1.18 Shots on Target per 90 (top 28%)
• 11.04 Passes Completed per 90 (bottom 22%)
• 2.19 Shot-Creating Actions per 90 (top 48%)
• 24.63 Touches per 90 (bottom 13%)
• 0.33 Successful Take-Ons per 90 (bottom 17%)

All Stats Shown From FBRef. Percentiles taken from a comparison with the top 5 European Leagues over the past year.

The above shotmap and statistical profile paint a very strong picture of Watkins as a player. He is a high-quality goalscorer, able to get in good positions and capitalise frequently. But he lacks the technical ability to feel like an Arteta-style striker. Yet should all else fail, Watkins would certainly be a strong option for the Gunners.

Arsenal may yet land Sesko – who despite having all the tools may currently lack the polish. But if they don’t, there’s a growing list of forwards who could offer something different, or in some cases, something better. One thing is almost certain: most forwards on this list will have a new club come the close of the transfer window.