Arsenal target Benjamin Sesko has revealed that some of his former teammates once claimed he was better than Manchester City’s Erling Haaland. The 21-year-old striker has emerged as a key option for Mikel Arteta to bolster the Gunners’ attacking options, amid the club’s struggles in front of goal this season.
Standing at 6ft4in, Sesko shares similar physical traits with Haaland, and like the Norwegian, he made the move from Red Bull Salzburg to the Bundesliga, joining RB Leipzig in 2023. Despite their similarities on the pitch, the comparison to Haaland somewhat surprised Sesko when reporters brought it up ahead of Leipzig’s Champions League tie against City late last year.
“I said it once, but it looks like I was saying I was way better than him,” Sesko recalled in an interview with The Telegraph. “This is comparing me to someone who is one of the best players in the world, so it’s not easy to compare. I would just love to be myself and be the best myself.”
While Sesko and Haaland never played together at Salzburg, the Slovenian international had long admired Haaland’s game. Reflecting on his younger years, he said, “I went to the games because I was playing in the youth side back then, and it was interesting to look at him. I thought, ‘I want to be like him’.”
Arteta has been keeping tabs on Sesko for some time, with the Arsenal manager previously considering a move for the striker during the summer. However, the club’s current injury crisis, with key forwards Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus sidelined, has brought the need for a goal scorer into sharper focus. Kai Havertz, currently leading the line, has struggled to deliver the goals Arsenal desperately need.
“We don’t have [a striker] at the moment,” Arteta admitted. “We are actively trying to find the best possible solution. *We need some support there.”
Since his move to Leipzig, Sesko has impressed, scoring 32 goals in 68 appearances. Arsenal is now reportedly keen to negotiate a deal for the highly-rated forward, but it’s believed that Sesko has a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ with Leipzig, allowing him to leave in the summer for around £60 million. Should Arsenal try to sign him mid-season, however, the German club could demand a higher fee for their prized asset.
With a potential deal on the horizon, Arsenal fans will be hoping that Sesko can be the answer to their attacking woes in the second half of the season.
