The 11 reasons Arsenal chose to sign Benjamin Sesko despite their interest in Alexander Isak.
Alexander Isak appears to be the perfect candidate for Arsenal’s new number nine this summer. The Premier League-proven striker has scored over 20 league goals for Newcastle United and has overcome initial injury concerns.
However, Newcastle has no intention of selling the Swedish international, prompting Arsenal to consider other targets. The primary alternative is RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, who has a €65 million (£55.6 million) release clause. This clause means Leipzig cannot stop a transfer if Arsenal activates it. Arsenal aims to finalize transfers early, and Sesko wants his future settled before the European Championships.
Sesko, who recently turned 21, has only one season of Bundesliga experience, leaving some fans skeptical about investing in him. After falling short in another title challenge, many believe Arsenal should only sign players who immediately improve the starting lineup, hence the preference for Isak.
Despite this, a closer look at Sesko’s season with Leipzig—where he moved from bench player to regular starter—shows why Arsenal is interested in him.
Comparing their performances, Isak averaged 0.92 non-penalty goals and assists per 90 minutes for Newcastle, while Sesko, despite playing fewer minutes, averaged 0.94. Sesko also outperformed Isak in non-penalty goals per 90 (0.82 vs. 0.64) and exceeded his expected goals (npxG) by 0.37, compared to Isak’s 0.02. Sesko’s goal-per-shot ratio was higher (0.3 vs. 0.22), and he contributed more goal-creating actions per 90 (0.47 vs. 0.4).
Defensively, Sesko’s stats are also impressive, ranking higher than Isak in tackles per 90 (0.76 vs. 0.2), tackles won per 90 (0.29 vs. 0), blocks per 90 (1.35 vs. 0.64), and clearances per 90 (1.59 vs. 0.52).
Standing at 6’5, Sesko has a slight height advantage over the 6’4 Isak and won 56.7% of his aerial duels compared to Isak’s 18.8%.
These metrics, combined with Sesko’s lower potential transfer cost compared to Isak, make him an attractive option for Arsenal. The key now is to secure the transfer and see if Sesko can translate these numbers into success at Arsenal.