Benjamin Sesko could be leading the line for Arsenal at the start of the 2025/26 Premier League season after the new season’s fixtures were released on Wednesday morning.
The Gunners will start the new season away at Manchester United, with the match live on Sky Sports at 4.30pm on Sunday, August 17.
And it looks as if Sesko is the man the Arsenal hierarchy have chosen to be the one to fill the striker role they have been looking to fill for some time.
Arsenal have reportedly agreed personal terms with the 22-year-old over a deal to bring him to the Emirates Stadium, with talks with RB Leipzig continuing over the total fee to complete the deal.
It is understood that figure could be anywhere between £68.5million and £85.5million as the Gunners look to tie up the deal before they head out on their pre-season tour of Asia on July 19.
Sesko will be tasked with solving the Gunners’ problems in front of goal, having had to rely on makeshift striker Mikel Merino for much of the second half of the 2024/25 campaign, given injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Jesus.
If Sesko does sign on the dotted line, he could have the perfect welcome gift just waiting for him at the Emirates Stadium in the form of his favoured shirt number.
Sesko has worn the No.30 shirt for the past five seasons – three of which were at RB Salzburg before the last two with Leipzig in the Bundesliga.
He generally wears the No.11 shirt for Slovenia – currently worn by Gabriel Martinelli and unlikely to change hands – which may well be his most preferred number, but 30 at club level has been his own for five years and he can be given that as a welcome gift at Arsenal when he completes his move.
That is because the No.30 shirt is currently free, having just been vacated by Raheem Sterling. Sterling spent the 2024/25 season on loan with Arsenal from London rivals Chelsea, but following the end of that loan spell he has returned to west London, with no permanent move negotiated.
Sesko will most likely take the vacant No.30 shirt if he signs and it could be the perfect tonic to help him settle in to life in a new country and a new league.
