All eyes will be on the two strikers at Old Trafford, as Viktor Gyokeres and Benjamin Sesko go head-to-head.
The wait is almost over to see Arsenal’s Premier League season commence, with the campaign starting with a trip to Old Trafford.
Mikel Arteta will be desperate to kick off the 2025/26 calendar with three points, as will Ruben Amorim and his new-look attack.
Despite the rivalry Arsenal and Manchester United have built over the years, the topic of bragging rights is focused on something else this year, and that’s the two strikers.
Joe Cole and Peter Crouch disagree about Viktor Gyokeres
Benjamin Sesko thought he was joining Arsenal after receiving interest from the North Londoners for some time.
The Slovenian then signed for Man United after the Gunners had signed Amorim’s target, Viktor Gyokeres.
In a shock turn of events in the transfer window, Sesko could now make his debut against Arsenal, while Gyokeres will make his competitive debut against United.
Attention will be on the strikers, and it already is, with pundits Joe Cole and Peter Crouch discussing the pair on TNT Sports.
When the duo were asked who they’d rather have between Sesko and Gyokeres, Cole showed his support for Arsenal’s new goalscorer.
“I’d take him, Gyokeres,” Cole said before being promoted to answer whether the Swede is a better signing than Sesko.
“Yes, yes, I do, I think he’s the one who excites you the most. I think he will score goals.
“Why have they not done this two or three years ago? They could have silverware at this point, but he will score goals this year, and they will kick on.”
It was then Crouch’s turn to answer, and his opinion differed from Cole’s.
“I’d take Sesko over him, personally,” he said.
Though Arsenal’s number 14 outscored Sesko by 26 league goals last season, the argument about whether Gyokeres can thrive in the Premier League is rife.
Ruben Amorim already wowed by Benjamin Sesko
We’ve had the Battle of Old Trafford and the Battle of the Buffet between United and Arsenal, and now, we could get the Battle of the Centre-Forwards.
On paper, Gyokeres has an advantage, having already made his Arsenal debut and scored for his new club, with Sesko yet to play for United in a match setting.
That being said, the Slovenian hasn’t needed to line up for United to have impressed Amorim, as the Man United manager explained ahead of the opening day.
“I think he has great potential in everything he does,” Amorim told the media about Sesko.
“He can play different types of football. He’s going to feel that the Premier League is really aggressive, he’s going to learn, but he has a great potential and I can see Ben being a striker for Manchester United for a lot of years.
“That’s why we paid so much money – to have a striker that will have his history in our club.”
It’s big praise from his new manager, with Arsenal firmly hoping his proposed legacy at United doesn’t commence against the Gunners.
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