Ray Parlour claims Arsenal transfer target Benjamin Sesko has big weakness he must improve

Ray Parlour has been impressed by Arsenal transfer target Benjamin Sesko, but believes the youngster must improve in the air if he is to become the complete centre-forward.

Arsenal are on the hunt for an out-and-out No.9 this summer after going a fifth successive season without winning a major trophy under Mikel Arteta.

The Gunners’ inactivity in January drew widespread criticism from supporters and pundits alike and injuries to both Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz only intensified calls for the club to find a solution in the transfer market.

It’s understood RB Leipzig’s Sesko, 22, has long been on Arsenal’s radar, though the Slovenian’s wage demands are said to have left the north Londoners’ increasingly ‘frustrated’ in recent days.

Arsenal have also encountered difficulties in pursuit of their other top target, Viktor Gyokeres, with the 27-year-old Sporting attacker threatening to go on strike to force through a switch to the Emirates.

‘It’s not rocket science is it? It’s glaring at you,’ ex-Arsenal midfielder Parlour told talkSPORT of the club’s need for a top striker this summer.

‘Sesko has got everything going for him. He’s a young lad, he can improve, he’s strong, he’s quick.

‘He’s not great in the air, he can do better in the air probably, if I’m being honest. But he’s on their radar.’

Parlour is confident one of Sesko or Gyokeres will be starting up front for Arsenal at the start of next season.

‘Gyokeres has obviously been linked to Manchester United, but it sounds like he wants to go to Arsenal,’ the three-time Premier League winner added.

‘I think it is going to be out of one of those strikers I should imagine.’

Parlour is positive about Martin Zubimendi’s impending arrival from Real Sociedad and expects Arsenal to explore the market for a winger to strengthen their options out wide.

‘Zubimendi looks like he’s going to be signed as well which gives Declan Rice a little bit more license to get forward,’ he continued.

‘[Thomas] Partey is staying so he’s another member in that squad who can play central midfield.

‘But striker-wise, it’s got to be one of those two and then hopefully they settle in straight away and they learn to play around the likes of [Bukayo] Saka and [Gabriel] Martinelli on the left, whoever it’s going to be.

‘I think they will go for another winger as well.

‘I think that’s quite important because when Saka was out last season, they did struggle a little bit and [Martin] Odegaard’s game went a little bit.’

According to Parlour, the Gunners have a ‘great chance’ of ending their long wait for a Premier League title next season – as long as they are ‘a little luckier’ with keeping key players fit.

‘Liverpool deserved to win the league, there’s no doubt about that, but they didn’t get have a lot of injuries to key players,’ he went on.

‘I’m talking about Van Dijk, he’s massive for Liverpool. Salah is massive for Liverpool and he didn’t get injured too often, he played every week.

‘So other teams got more injuries than Liverpool, but that’s nothing against Liverpool because they deserved to win it. They were the best team in the league and the most consistent.

‘But I think Arsenal have got to learn from last season and if they can get a little luckier with injuries, they’ve got a great chance again.’

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