Benjamin Sesko will not be an Arsenal player next season. The Slovenia striker has decided to end all speculation around his future by signing a new contract with RB Leipzig.
Sesko had been the subject of intense speculation in the early stages of the close season, with Arsenal heavily linked with a move for the 21-year-old. Chelsea were also credited with an interest.
It looked though as if Arsenal would win the race for his signature, but a new deal in Germany put paid to all of that.
Sesko had a release clause of £55million and at the age of 21, looked to be the perfect player for the Arsenal revolution, albeit not having scored as many goals as other potential signings last season.
Arsenal fans got a chance to see what they missed out on as Slovenia took on Denmark at Euro 2024. football.london kept an eye on his movements…
0-15 minutes
Sesko was very quiet in the first 15 minutes of the match, barely touching the ball, if at all. But in the 15th minute, he came alive in almost spectacular fashion.
With his back to goal he received the ball and expertly swivelled, almost 30 yards out. He took a touch and without even looking, head down, over the ball, he fired an incredible effort that whistled millimetres wide of Kasper Schmeichel’s post.
That would have been a sensational welcome to Euro 2024, but within minutes, Slovenia were behind and it was a lovely moment for Christian Eriksen, chesting the ball down in the box and firing home in his first European Championship match since the cardiac arrest at Euro 2020.
16-45 minutes
Scoring from 25 yards is not what teams will buy a centre-forward for, although it helps. Being in the box and putting chances away is what Arsenal and others would look for.
And it was clear Sesko was getting into the positions to score, but just not being found, either due to poor delivery or good defending from Denmark.
He had very little service to speak of after his one moment of near magic, starved of possession as Denmark dominated the ball and the half. He only had five passes, only three of which reached their intended destination, while he made one tackle and one clearance in his own box.
46-60 minutes
Sesko showed his strength soon after the break picking the ball up on halfway and holding off Morten Hjulmand, winning a free-kick and earning the Dane a yellow card.
61-90 minutes
The attacker tried to get more involved in the game and started to show more for the ball, more than he did in the first half. He tried to hold the ball up and turn and run at the defence, but was always fouled before he could get going.
Sesko must have won at least four free-kicks in the second half – the Danes clearly seeing him as the dangerman he is. And he once again showed why on 75 minutes, taking a headed knock down 25 yards out, taking a beautiful touch and smashing a brilliant effort that cannoned back off the upright.
A minute later, Slovenia equalised, not through Sesko, but they ended the game on a high and ended up picking up a deserved point in the first draw of the tournament.
Conclusion
It was not exactly a vintage first half showing from Sesko, but he was much better in the second period, holding the ball up well, winning free-kicks and smashing that effort off the post.
At 21-years-old he still has plenty to learn, but he has a huge amount about him already and will surely only get better and better.
