Arsenal Made To Sweat For Benjamin Sesko

As the summer transfer window opens, Arsenal fans were confident about a deal, but now they might be witnessing a tug‑of‑war over one of Europe’s most promising young strikers, Benjamin Šeško. The 22‑year‑old Slovenian powerhouse has emerged as Mikel Arteta’s top target, but it’s becoming clear that this deal won’t come cheap, or quietly. Fresh interest from Saudi Arabia’s money‑bags side, Al‑Hilal, has thrown a curveball into the Gunners’ pursuit, pushing the North London club into a tense, last‑minute scramble.

Saudi Challenge Disrupts Arsenal’s Rhythm

Until recently, the narrative was straightforward. Arsenal had identified Šeško as the missing piece in their attack, and talks were underway. The towering 6-foot-5 forward, a Bundesliga breakout star with RB Leipzig who bagged 21 goals last season, provides Arteta with the ideal mix of aerial threat, pace, and clinical finishing.

But then Saudi Arabia intervened. With Victor Osimhen declining a mega‑wage offer, Al‑Hilal switched to Šeško, reportedly offering a salary quadruple what Arsenal had likely provided. Even so, Šeško appears determined to stay in Europe. Fabrizio Romano and club sources suggest his heart remains with the Premier League. At the same time, Spanish outlet AS reports he’s “not convinced” by the Saudi interest, remaining confident of a move to the Londoners, though they’ve made no official bid yet.

From Arsenal’s perspective, this has turned a routine pursuit into a sprint against time, especially with Al‑Hilal racing to complete a Club World Cup‑eligible player registration before tonight’s 7 pm deadline. Media outlets in England even warn that the Gunners risk being “hijacked” on deadline day unless they urgently escalate their proposal.

Negotiations Intensify In North London

While Arsenal hasn’t publicly lodged their opening offer, insiders from Sky Sports Deutschland’s Florian Plettenberg suggest fresh conversation rounds are in motion. Should the Gunners commit around €80–100 million, the chances of sealing the deal look promising. Leipzig, out of European competition next season, could be forced to negotiate.

On Reddit, fans are reacting with a mix of hope and nervousness. From r/Gunners, users observe that Arsenal must now step up their offer: “Sesko remains of interest… may be time for Arsenal to make a concerted effort.”  Another user on r/soccer, referencing Romano’s updates, pointed out:

“Benjamin Sesko has rejected offer from Al Hilal. The player remains on track to join Arsenal, negotiations underway.”  On the flip side, r/ArsenalFC’s threads reflect fans’ worries: “How much of a worry is this for Arsenal?” referring to Al‑Hilal’s interest. These tweets and posts show the pressure on the club’s hierarchy to accelerate talks and outbid Saudi deep pockets.

A Pivotal Moment For Ambition

Why does this matter so much for Arsenal? For starters, the Gunners have lacked a true No. 9 in recent seasons. The injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus left the frontline fragmented, and none of the temporary adjustments, including using midfielders up front, have been convincing. Šeško, by contrast, offers a blend of size, skill, and consistent scoring that’s rare in young strikers.

Arteta is reportedly viewing Šeško as a direct weapon, someone who can dominate in duels, hold up the ball and finish clinically. This aligns with Arsenal’s forward‑thinking, possession‑based style while adding the physicality they’ve lacked near the goal. Arteta prefers the 22-year-old over the likes of Viktor Gyokerez and Osimhen. 

Saudi clubs like Al‑Hilal are making aggressive moves ahead of their expanded Club World Cup participation. Their pursuit of aging but storied names like N’Golo Kanté alongside younger assets like Šeško signals a strategic shift; they want to challenge in short‑term competitions now. If Šeško accepted their offer, it could trigger a domino effect in Europe’s transfer market and leave Arsenal scrambling again.

Final Thoughts 

Arsenal needs to act swiftly. The clock isn’t just ticking; it’s almost stopped. With a 7 p.m. deadline looming in Saudi Arabia, a blurred window for player registrations, and other top clubs (including Real Madrid, Chelsea, and Manchester United) reportedly alert to Šeško’s situation, the Gunners can’t afford hesitation.

A successful deal would mark a defining moment, not just a high‑value signing, but a statement of intent that Arsenal are ready to challenge for the Premier League crown. For fans, it would signal that the club is serious about trophy‑hunting, not just qualifying for Europe. But time is the enemy. If Al‑Hilal seals the deal tonight, The Gunners would be left with the scramble again for a forward. And that would open questions about Arteta’s ability to land key targets under pressure.