In a summer when most of the Premier League’s top clubs scoured the market for a new striker, Arsenal and Manchester United signed Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko, respectively.
Arsenal identified Gyokeres as the man to finally get them over the line, after finishing as Premier League runners-up for a third year running.
United acquired Sesko following his 21-goal haul in 45 appearances for RB Leipzig across all competitions.
Now sitting first and fourth in the Premier League table, Arsenal and United have made significant strides compared to their 2024-25 campaigns – but those improvements have come largely despite, rather than thanks to, their new centre-forwards.
The clubs could really do with their big-money acquisitions firing on all cylinders, and they have reason to be optimistic about that, given their form so far in 2026.
Gyokeres has bagged four goals and two assists over his last six appearances. Sesko has scored four goals in six matches since the turn of the year.
In an alternate universe, Sesko could be leading the line for Arsenal and Gyokeres for United, but based on their performances since arriving in England, which club has secured the better deal?
For strikers, goals are the primary metric, and Gyokeres leads Sesko 11-6. However, a closer look at the numbers reveals their finishing prowess is more evenly matched than the raw totals suggest.
Gyokeres averages 0.50 goals per 90 minutes (0.42 excluding penalties) with an underperformance of -1.45 (goals minus expected goals). Sesko averages 0.43 goals per 90 with an underperformance of -0.62.
The Arsenal striker has faced criticism for not generating quality chances at a consistent rate – his shots on target per 90 stand at 1.01, more than half a shot fewer than Sesko’s 1.60 per 90.
Averaging one and two assists respectively, neither Sesko nor Gyokeres have done particularly well at setting up teammates to score.
The Slovenian trails his Swedish counterpart in both chances created per game (0.87-0.58) and big chances created (0.14-0).
Given the physical nature of English football, a striker’s ability to win duels is also important, and Gyokeres significantly pales in comparison to Sesko.
Gyokeres has won just 33.3 percent of his total duels (30.3% for aerial duels), while Sesko has a 40.11% duel success rate and 50.5% for aerial battles.
Both strikers still have another level to reach if they are to be judged a true success at their new clubs.
With Arsenal chasing a historic quadruple and United pushing for a return to the Champions League, the spotlight will only intensify.
*All stats are from FotMob.
