Football writer Adrian Clarke identifies the key players, team tactics and where matches could be won and lost in Matchweek 1.
Player analysis: Benjamin Sesko (Manchester United) and Viktor Gyokeres (Arsenal)
Sunday’s eye-catching encounter between Man Utd and Arsenal will see two of the Premier League’s most exciting new faces, Sesko and Gyokeres, going head-to-head at Old Trafford.
Why have Man Utd and Arsenal spent big on new strikers?
Ruben Amorim had no choice but to react to Man Utd's goalscoring woes in 2024/25.
They found the back of the net just 44 times, the club’s lowest-ever Premier League tally in a single campaign, and failed to score in 15 of their 38 league matches.
They missed too many goalscoring chances, registering the second-lowest conversion rate in the Premier League last season.
Lowest conversion rates - Premier League 24/25
| Team | Chances converted % |
|---|---|
| Southampton | 7.58% |
| Man Utd | 8.33% |
| Ipswich | 9.57% |
| West Ham | 9.66% |
| Leicester | 9.85% |
Man Utd are attempting to fix those issues with the signings of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Sesko.
Those three additions scored a combined 48 league goals for their respective clubs last season, so once they integrate into Amorim’s style of play we should see a marked improvement.
Arsenal have been searching for a prolific goalscorer for several years now, so the arrival of Gyokeres has filled supporters with optimism.
When scoring 88 goals in 2022/23 and 91 goals in 2023/24, Mikel Arteta’s side shared the burden extremely well as a team.
But last season their tally dropped to just 69 goals; a serious dip which Arsenal knew they could not afford to ignore.
Sesko's key strengths
Man Utd's new centre-forward is tall, quick and lethal in front of goal, so the Slovenian has all the tools required to become a world-class striker.
One of the most impressive aspects of Sesko's game is the adaptability of his finishing.
Blessed with great height and a prodigious leap, he scores plenty of headers, but he is also capable of improvising inside the danger zone to plunder goals with both feet.
His spread of finishes (below) is very impressive.
How Sesko has scored since start of 23/24
| Goal type | Total goals |
|---|---|
| Right foot | 20 |
| Left foot | 9 |
| Header | 10 |
The talented 22-year-old has also made a name for himself as a scorer of great goals.
Four of his 39 strikes for RB Leipzig came from outside the box, while he also has nimble feet in tight areas that help him manufacture chances for himself.
This breakdown of his goal ''sources'' since the start of 2023/24 show a player who is equally dangerous attacking crosses or racing onto through-balls.
Sesko also has a keen eye for snaffling close range tap-ins and rebounds.
Source of Sesko's 39 RB Leipzig goals 2023 to 2025
| Source | Total goals |
|---|---|
| Through-balls | 7 |
| Crosses | 7 |
| Loose balls/tap-ins/rebounds | 6 |
| Passes inside box | 5 |
| Shots from outside box | 4 |
| Penalties | 4 |
| Individual skill inside box | 3 |
| Set-pieces | 3 |
Gyokeres' key strengths
The Gunners have recruited a powerhouse Swede who has netted 97 goals and provided 20 assists for Sporting across the last two seasons.
Gyokeres' numbers are incredible, and with 79 of his strikes stemming from a hammer right foot, Premier League defenders must work overtime to shut down his space when he is in shooting range.
He is not as rounded a finisher as Sesko, but with the ball at his feet anywhere inside the final third, the former Coventry City star carries a huge threat.
How Gyokeres has scored since start of 23/24
| Goal type | Total goals |
|---|---|
| Right foot | 79 |
| Left foot | 13 |
| Header | 5 |
The 27-year-old is a ruthless penalty taker, scoring 27 times from the spot across the previous two campaigns.
He also attacks crosses with a high degree of expertise, regularly turning his markers inside out with jinking dribbles. We have seen glimpses of this in pre-season.
Gyokeres’ strongest trait, aside from striking the ball, is undoubtedly his running power, with and without the ball.
He constantly wants to stretch rivals with progressive sprints towards goal.
Source of Gyokeres' 97 Sporting goals 2023 to 2025
| Goal type | Total goals |
|---|---|
| Penalties | 27 |
| Through-balls/ball carries | 24 |
| Crosses | 18 |
| Individual skill inside box | 11 |
| Loose balls/tap ins/rebounds | 7 |
| Set-pieces | 5 |
| Intercepting back passes | 4 |
| Shots from outside box | 1 |
How will Gyokeres and Sesko affect their teams' tactics?
Gyokores should have a transformational impact on Arsenal from a tactical standpoint.
His explosive skillset will make them far more penetrative from fast breaks, and in theory they should be able to move the ball forward quicker.
Going direct has been a feature of the Arsenal's friendlies this summer.
At times last season, the Gunners played in front of the opposition too much, moving the ball from wing to wing.
Now, they have an option up top who wants to surge forward at every opportunity.
This graphic below shows Gyokeres' shot and chance-creating ball carries for Sporting in 2024/25.
It indicates a preference for raiding down the left, which may unlock a left-hand side that was not as productive as it could have been last season.
Gyokeres' runs will create danger in their own right, but he will also create space for others by taking defenders away.
In Portugal’s Primeira Liga, no one came close to the number of carries, and progressive passes Gyokeres received in 2024/25.
Arteta wants his players to be brave enough to make those forward passes, so Gyokeres feels like the right fit.
Gyokeres in Primeira Liga 2024/25
| Action | Total | League rank |
|---|---|---|
| Carries into penalty box | 97 | 1st |
| Progressive carries | 133 | 1st |
| Progressive passes received | 335 | 1st |
Meanwhile at Man Utd, Sesko is not hugely different in terms of style from Rasmus Hojlund, but his colossal aerial threat is going to provide Amorim's wing-backs and attacking midfielders with far more encouragement to put balls into the box.
Man Utd only scored four headed goals in the Premier League last season (none from a striker, and a division joint-low) so the Sesko’s prowess in the air is sure to help greatly.
Which combinations will be most fruitful?
Bruno Fernandes executed the highest number of through-balls last season, so Sesko will enjoy the service he receives from Man Utd's captain.
When cutting in from the right, Mbeumo is also a terrific crosser, producing 23 successful open-play deliveries for Brentford; a figure that was among the highest in the league.
If he aims for Sesko, he will rack up plenty of assists.
For Arsenal, Martin Odegaard’s ability to slide penetrative passes in behind defenders will suit Gyokeres, and it is easy to envisage Bukayo Saka’s creativity down the right working beautifully in tandem with the new striker.
Through-balls per 90 minutes 24/25
| Player | Average |
|---|---|
| Martin Odegaard | 0.97 |
| Bruno Fernandes | 0.92 |
| Mikkel Damsgaard | 0.83 |
Top duels in prospect
If he starts this Sunday, Sesko will come face to face with arguably the best centre-back partnership in Europe.
William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are formidable alongside one another, but the latter has only started one match in pre-season following a long-term injury.
It will be a tough test for Sesko, but it could be a good time to face Arsenal before those two have settled into their rhythm as a pair.
Gyokeres will encounter a back three, which is never easy for a lone striker.
You will likely see him looking to sprint down the side of right-side centre back Leny Yoro, especially if Amad is caught ahead of the ball.
Yoro will at times jump out of the back three to engage with Gyokeres, but he must be aggressive in those moments.
If Yoro isn’t, Gyokeres will forcefully take Arsenal up the pitch.
The striker who settles the quickest will have a big say on the outcome of this heavyweight opening-weekend encounter.