Arsenal now risk missing out on Mikel Arteta’s top transfer target for the sake of just £9m

Mikel Arteta has made it clear for some time now that he wants Arsenal to invest in a new striker.

When Gabriel Jesus was ruled out for a long period in January, Mikel Arteta didn’t hold back in saying that he did want Arsenal to recruit an extra body.

That didn’t happen, interim sporting director Jason Ayto ultimately decided that the right striker wasn’t available mid-season, a decision which Arteta accepted.

But Arsenal recruiting a new number nine in the coming months is surely seen as a non-negotiable, and Arteta wants a striker in place for the club’s pre-season tour.

And whilst there’s a lot of talk about signing Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP, Benjamin Sesko is believed to be Arsenal’s first choice.

Arsenal could miss out on Benjamin Sesko as ‘game of chicken’ begins

However, a new report from the Independent would suggest that Arsenal are willing to play a risky game when it comes to Benjamin Sesko.

Sesko remains Arsenal’s ‘priority’ target this summer but there’s currently a gap in valuation of around €10m (£9m) between the two clubs.

Photo by Ulrik Pedersen/NurPhoto via Getty Images

READ MORE: Chuba Akpom says whether Arsenal should buy Viktor Gyokeres or Benjamin Sesko, ‘It’s not even close…’

And the situation has now been compared to a ‘game of chicken’ with Arsenal not willing to raise their €70m offer, nor RB Leipzig willing to deviate from their €80m asking price.

TBR Football recently shared that Sesko was frustrated with Leipzig and their backtracking on a gentlemen’s agreement over his asking price.

But either way, one of the two parties will have to eventually budge, and on their part, Arsenal are risking another club coming in and stealing a move.

Fortunately for Arsenal, Chelsea no longer want Sesko after signing Liam Delap from Ipswich Town.

But that’s not to say that one of European football’s heavyweights couldn’t suddenly launch a move — note Nico Williams’ recent choice to join Barcelona.

Andrea Berta is already under pressure at Arsenal

It’s a seriously risky game and Arsenal fans will have to simply trust that new sporting director Andrea Berta knows what he’s doing.

Berta is spinning several plates right now, Arsenal are also in talks to sign Rodrygo from Real Madrid.

But for the sake of £9m, it must be frustrating for Arsenal fans that Stan Kroenke’s side aren’t just stumping up the cash.

Arsenal will only pay what they believe to be fair, and they will also seek to achieve the best deal in terms of PSR, perhaps preferring a structured payment plan.

But when it comes to simply having the best striker on the pitch for Arsenal, missing out on Sesko for such a small sum would be quite ludicrous.

And whilst it’s still early in the window, there’s a lot of pressure on Berta and his team to get things right.

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