Since Mikel Arteta became the Arsenal manager, one league has been notable focus for transfers. Initially it was France, where Gabriel Magalhaes and William Saliba came from, but things have shifted.
There have been swoops into the Brazilian market, a pretty strong hit-rate from Spain, and recent visits to Italy, but the Premier League is the most popular market to shop in. From relegated Aaron Ramsdale (who should maybe count as Championship?) to Ben White, Arsenal have turned to those they can trust.
There is a scalability to Premier League players which is known. If they do it for another club in the top division then they are likely to be able to translate that. The models for predicting the success of in-league transfers are strong.
It is a much harder game when it comes to projecting what might follow a change of country and league style. There is a general feeling that those from La Liga will do well. Meanwhile, Arsenal have mainly looked at defenders from Serie A.
Ligue 1 is a hotbed of youth talent, and South America is a goldmine of young players. Arsenal have largely been able to draw from all corners to assemble their current side.
There are academy players mixed with a strong Premier League core – White and Declan Rice have stepped up a level whilst Kai Havertz adapted, even Oleksandr Zinchenko and Gabriel Jesus played their roles expertly for 12 to 18 months after moving from Manchester City – whilst Thomas Partey came from Atletico Madrid, Martin Odegaard the other side of the Spanish capital, and the centre-backs from France.
Riccardo Calafiori is an Italian with a background in Italian football via Juventus and Roma. Takehiro Tomiyasu caught the eye at Bologna in Italy as well, only injuries have stopped him from being a more regular player for the club. Jakub Kiwior was a cheaper pickup but has been useful, if nothing else.
There is one top league missing, here. Arsenal have not signed a first team player from Bundesliga since 2018. That could be about to change.
Benjamin Sesko is one of the players to watch this summer as Arsenal look to make amends for missing out on him 12 months ago ahead of the Euros. Since then his stock has continued to rise, as has his price.
Now 22, Sesko put together another impressive scoring season in Germany and showed exactly why so many clubs have been on his tail for a while. The tall frame, powerful shots, and explosive ability are enough to draw anyone in.
But there are concerns with Sesko, like there are with Viktor Gyokeres, over how he might adapt to England. Teams are more physical, there isn’t as much space, and how would be cope against a deep defence camped on the edge of the box, as Arsenal have faced so often?
When a total package might have to reach £92.5million, these are all key questions to ask. Given the success of players switching Germany for England, it is understandable why there is caution.
You only have to look at the skinny figure of Havertz going to Chelsea from Bayer Leverkusen in 2020 as an example. He was bullied to start with, pushed around the field by opposition players and his own manager in the search of an ideal position.
Havertz eventually settled on being a striker. Arsenal had hopes of turning him back into an attacking No.8 from midfield but he has been forced to cover up front instead, a job he now does well.
Havertz bulked up, lost a bit of the flair, and is now a functional targetman at times. Strong in the air but without the same finesse he arrived with.
Sesko probably wouldn’t have to make such a drastic change as he is already a striker, but there will be an adaption period. There is a general wariness over buying from Germany, though.
It’s not just a Chelsea thing, but both Timo Werner and Christopher Nkunku have moved from RB Leipzig and not hit the mark for multiple reasons. Dominik Szoboszlai has had more luck at Liverpool but plays in a deeper role.
The striker thing in Bundesliga is fascinating. Arsenal only need to go back before Arteta to January 2018 when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang signed for £60million.
He was a success but was also proven on the elite stage whereas Sesko isn’t. Aubemayeng had scored 13, 16, 25, and then 31 Bundesliga goals in his four full seasons at Borussia Dortmund before leaving with 13 in 16. He had a Champions League record to boast and was considerably older than Sesko in his mid-20s.
Sesko is still junior compared to this. There is an eagerness to try and haness his raw potential early before it explodes, but that carries with it the risk.
Arsenal appear committed to doing something they haven’t for seven years as they try to buy Sesko, a Bundesliga player. It has, in general, been a league they ignore.
Sokratis and Bernd Leno arrived a few months after Aubameyang but Granit Xhaka predated both of them (summer 2016). Before that it is back to Lukas Podolski in 2012 and Per Mertesacker the year before. Arsenal have a strange relationship with Bundesliga players but will be hoping Sesko can reignite the spark.
