Benjamin Sesko: How Slovenian sensation could ignite Arsenal’s attack

As the summer transfer window of 2025 heats up, Arsenal’s pursuit of RB Leipzig’s 22-year-old striker Benjamin Sesko has emerged as one of the most tantalizing sagas in European football. With a reported €70-100 million price tag, Mikel Arteta and sporting director Andrea Berta see the 6’5” Slovenian as the missing piece to propel the Gunners to their first Premier League title since 2004. Sesko’s blend of physicality, pace, and goal-scoring instinct has drawn comparisons to Erling Haaland, but his unique skill set offers more than just goals. This piece is set to explore Sesko’s performances, records, playing style, and suitability for Arteta’s tactical vision, exploring whether he can become Arsenal’s next great No. 9.

Benjamin Sesko rise

Born on May 31, 2003, in Radece, Slovenia, Benjamin Sesko’s journey began at NK Krško, where he scored 59 goals in 23 matches as a youth player. His prodigious talent led to a move to Red Bull Salzburg’s academy in 2019, following a prolific spell at NK Domzale, where sporting director Matej Orazem told Sky Sports, “He is destined for greatness.” At Salzburg, Sesko thrived in the Red Bull system, scoring 21 goals in 29 Austrian Bundesliga matches during the 2022/23 season. His €20 million transfer to RB Leipzig in 2023 was a natural progression, and despite a slow start, he has since established himself as one of Europe’s most promising forwards.

Sesko’s international career mirrors his club ascent. With 15 goals in 35 caps for Slovenia by June 2025, he’s a national hero, breaking records as the youngest debutant (16 years, 1 day) and scorer (17 years, 114 days) for his country. His performances at Euro 2024, where he scored against Serbia, and a brace in Slovenia’s 2-1 Nations League win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in June 2025, have only heightened his global profile.

Sesko performance in 2024/25

Sesko’s 2024/25 season with Leipzig was his most productive yet, despite the club’s disappointing seventh-place Bundesliga finish, missing UEFA competitions. In 45 appearances across all competitions, he scored 21 goals and provided 6 assists, including 13 goals and 5 assists in 33 Bundesliga matches and 4 goals in 8 Champions League games. Sesko’s standout performances included a run of 7 goals in Leipzig’s final 7 Bundesliga matches, earning him the Bundesliga Player of the Month for May 2025. His 4 Champions League goals, including a brace against Feyenoord, showcased his ability to shine on big stages. However, his xG outperformance (10 goals from 7.2 xG in the Bundesliga) indicates clinical finishing, but his 12 big chances missed (third-most in the league) suggests room for improvement, as noted by Transfermarkt.

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Sesko records and achievements

At 22, Sesko’s trophy cabinet is modest but growing, reflecting his rapid development: Austrian Bundesliga (2020/21, 2021/22, 2022/23), Austrian Cup (2020/21, 2021/22) with Salzburg; DFB-Pokal (2023/24) with Leipzig. Individually, he was Bundesliga Player of the Month (May 2025), Slovenian Footballer of the Year (2023, 2024), Austrian Bundesliga Top Scorer (2022/23, 16 goals), UEFA Champions League Young Player of the Week (vs. Feyenoord, 2024).

Sesko is the youngest Slovenia debutant (16 years, 1 day), youngest Slovenia scorer (17 years, 114 days), youngest Leipzig scorer in Bundesliga history (20 years, 4 days), fastest hat-trick in Slovenian PrvaLiga history (16 minutes, for Domžale). His 39 goals in 87 appearances for Leipzig (0.45 goals per game) underline his efficiency, with The Athletic noting his “seven-game goal streak” as proof of his potential to lead a top club’s attack.

Sesko playing style

Sesko’s game is a blend of traditional and modern striker traits, making him a versatile weapon. At 6’5”, his physicality draws Haaland comparisons, but his technical ability and mobility set him apart, with some analysts likening him to a young Zlatan Ibrahimovic. Sesko’s height and strength (1.8 aerials won per 90) make him a target man, ideal for holding up play and winning headers, as seen in his goal against Serbia at Euro 2024. His top speed of 35.7 km/h ( Bundesliga stats) and rapid acceleration allow him to exploit spaces behind defenses, evident in his solo goal against Freiburg in 2024.

Sesko’s 0.47 goals per 90 and xG outperformance (10 vs. 7.2 in 2024/25 Bundesliga) highlight his knack for scoring, though his 12 missed big chances indicate inconsistency. He can play as a lone striker, in a two-striker system, or drop deeper as a No. 10. His 5 assists in 2024/25 show improving link-up play. While not a pressing monster like Kai Havertz, Sesko’s 0.6 tackles per 90 and 1.2 recoveries demonstrate a willingness to contribute defensively, aligning with Arteta’s demands.

However, Benjamin Sesko has some weaknesses which include patchy form, with goal droughts (e.g., 5 games without a goal in January 2025) and a lower xG per shot (0.13 vs. Havertz’s 0.18), per football.london. His link-up play, while improving, is less developed than Havertz’s, and his adaptation to the Premier League’s physicality and low-block defenses remains a question, as Leipzig’s open, transitional style differs from Arsenal’s controlled approach.

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How Sesko could fit Mikel Arteta’s tactics

Arteta’s 4-2-3-1 system at Arsenal emphasizes possession (58% in 2024/25), high pressing, and versatility, with the striker acting as both a focal point and a facilitator. Kai Havertz, Arsenal’s primary No. 9, scored 9 goals in 2024/25 before an injury, but his lack of clinical finishing (8 big chances missed) and the team’s 69 league goals (4th in the Premier League) shows the need for a prolific striker. Sesko’s profile aligns with Arteta’s vision in several ways:

Sesko’s physicality and aerial ability make him a target for crosses from Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli, addressing Arsenal’s struggle against low blocks. His 2.5 shots per 90 match Arsenal’s high shot volume (14.8 per game), per Premier League stats. Arteta demands forwards press aggressively, as Havertz’s 1.4 tackles per 90 show. Sesko’s work rate, while less intense, is improving, and Arteta’s coaching could mold him, as seen with Mikel Merino’s successful stint as a makeshift striker (6 goals in 12 games).

Sesko’s ability to drop deeper or play alongside Havertz in a 4-4-2 could allow Arteta to experiment, with The Athletic suggesting a Havertz No. 10 and Sesko No. 9 partnership. His 2.1 shot-creating actions per 90 complement Arsenal’s creative midfield, including Martin Ødegaard (3.7 key passes per 90). At 22, Sesko fits Arteta’s youth-focused project, having developed players like Saka and Ethan Nwaneri. Arteta’s success with Merino suggests he can refine Sesko’s finishing, addressing his 12 missed chances.

However, challenges exist. The experience of Benjamin Sesko in Leipzig’s difficult, transition-heavy style (2.3 counter-attacks per game vs. Arsenal’s 1.1) may require adaptation to Arsenal’s structured build-up, as noted by Transfermarkt. His lower link-up play (0.9 passes into the final third per 90 vs. Havertz’s 1.8) could limit his role in intricate moves, and his inconsistent form raises concerns, with football.london comparing him to Darwin Nunez’s struggles at Liverpool. Arteta’s “rigorous tactical management” demands discipline, and Sesko’s learning curve could be steep, according to Sky Sports.

Conclusion

The potential move of Benjamin Sesko to Arsenal represents a bold step for Mikel Arteta’s project, offering a striker with the physicality, pace, and potential to end the Gunners’ trophy drought. His 21 goals and 6 assists in 2024/25, coupled with records as Slovenia’s youngest scorer and Leipzig’s rising star, underscore his elite pedigree. His playing style, combining aerial dominance, speed, and versatility fits Arteta’s system, particularly as a focal point against low blocks, though his finishing and link-up play need refinement. If Arteta can harness Sesko’s raw talent, as he did with Merino, the Slovenian could become Arsenal’s Haaland, leading them to glory in the 2025/26 Premier League and beyond. As negotiations progress, Arsenal fans dream of a new era, with Sesko at its heart, ready to fire the Gunners to greatness.