Arsenal have taken a specific approach to their transfer dealings since Mikel Arteta took over as Gunners boss. The club targeting RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko would represent a departure from Arsenal’s usual tactics as they look to sign a player from the Bundesliga for the first time since 2018.
The Gunners may have bought players from across Europe and even the Brazilian market in recent years, but the Premier League has remained the preferred shopping destination. From Aaron Ramsdale to Ben White, Arsenal have often turned to players with experience in England. That is because Premier League proven players are a known quantity and are more likely to succeed if they are already performing well in the top-flight.
Predicting the success of players changing country and league style is a trickier task. There’s a general consensus that those from La Liga will fare well. Meanwhile, Arsenal have primarily targeted defenders from Serie A. Ligue 1 is full of young talent and South America is a similar treasure trove of promising players. However, Arsenal have chosen to steer clear of signing players from Germany.
Arsenal’s squad is a blend of academy players and a strong Premier League core – White and Declan Rice have elevated their game, while Kai Havertz has adapted well. Even Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus played their roles expertly for 12 to 18 months after arriving from Manchester City.
New additions to the league have come in the form of Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard from either side of Madrid, as well as centre-back partnership Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba signing from French clubs. Riccardo Calafiori and Takehiro Tomiyasu caught the eye in Serie A before making their moves to north London.
However, Arsenal have not signed a first team player from the Bundesliga since 2018. A move for Sesko could change that. Arsenal missed out on deal for the striker months ago ahead of the Euros and his stock has continued to rise, as has his price. The last players to join the club from Germany were Benrd Leno and Sokratis seven summers ago, but the move for Sesko is more akin to Arsenal’s £60million move for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang earlier that year.
Aubameyang proved successful but had already established himself on the elite stage, unlike Sesko. He had netted 13, 16, 25, and then 31 Bundesliga goals in his four full seasons at Borussia Dortmund before departing with a record of 13 in 16. Aubameyang also had a Champions League record to brag about and was considerably older than Sesko, being in his mid-20s.
Sesko, on the other hand, is still relatively young compared to Aubameyang. There’s an eagerness to tap into his raw potential before it fully blossoms, but this approach carries its own risks.
Now 22, Sesko put together another impressive scoring season in Germany and showed exactly why he has attracted interest from elsewhere. However, there are concerns about how Sesko might adjust to England.
When the striker could prove pivotal to Arsenal’s title hopes, there are various factors to consider. Given the success of players moving from Germany to England, it’s understandable why there is caution.
Havertz’s move to Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 is a prime example. Initially, opposition players and his own manager pushed him around the pitch in search of the perfect position.
Havertz eventually settled into the role of a striker. Arsenal had hopes of converting him back into an attacking No.8 from midfield, but he has been forced to cover up front instead, a job he now performs well. He bulked up, lost some of his flair, and is now a functional target man at times. He’s strong in the air but lacks the finesse he initially brought with him.
Sesko probably wouldn’t have to make such a drastic change as he is already a striker, but there will be a period of adaptation. Both Timo Werner and Christopher Nkunku signed for Chelsea from RB Leipzig and struggled to hit the mark for various reasons. Dominik Szoboszlai has had more luck at Liverpool but plays in a deeper role.
Arsenal seem determined to do something they haven’t done for seven years in their attempt to purchase Sesko from the Bundesliga. Before the signing of Aubameyang, Arsenal’s last transfers from Germany were Lukas Podolski in 2012 and Per Mertesacker the year before. Arsenal have a peculiar relationship with Bundesliga players, but they hope Sesko can rekindle the spark.
