Arsenal had hoped to be watching one of their new signings in action as Slovenia take on Serbia at Euro 2024 on Thursday. Ahead of England’s match with Denmark, the other two teams in Group D go head-to-head at the Allianz Arena in Munich.
Slovenia striker Benjamin Sesko had looked odds-on to join the Gunners in the summer transfer window, but instead chose to sign a new deal to stay at RB Leipzig. The 21-year-old looked good in Slovenia’s first game against Denmark, almost scoring with two superb long-range strikes.
He held the ball up well, particularly in the second half, showing his strength and obviously his class with those two pot-shots at goal, proving why Arsenal were so interested in signing him this summer.
But he will not be an Arsenal player, at least not this year, leaving Mikel Arteta and Edu to look elsewhere for striking options. And they could take another look at one player who, like Sesko, has previously been very heavily linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium during the Slovenia vs Serbia clash.
Dusan Vlahovic was a name hugely linked in connection with signing for the Gunners in 2022 and has been regularly named in transfer windows since. Having scored 44 goals in 109 Serie A games for Fiorentina, he decided instead to make a £66.6million move to Juventus over Arsenal.
Vlahovic netted 18 goals and provided three assists for Juve this season, added to the 14 goals and four assists in 2022/23. At just 24 years of age he could still be the perfect striker signing for Arteta to complete his squad this summer.
Serbia took on England in their first Euro 2024 match, losing 1-0 to a Jude Bellingham goal. Vlahovic had two shots, one of which was on target – with Jordan Pickford in fairness having to produce a fine save to deny him – winning one aerial duel. He only touched the ball 18 times, however, which may not be the kind of frontman Arteta is looking for, with only two of his six passes reaching their intended target.
Serbia were stifled somewhat in the first half by England, but did have more of the ball in the second period as the Three Lions sat back.
It will be interesting to see how he and Serbia play against a more limited Slovenia side on Thursday and both Arteta and Edu and the scouts at Arsenal could be watching on interestedly to see how he plays.
