Manchester United's curtain raiser against Arsenal on Sunday (August 17) has all the ingredients of a Premier League classic. A fallen giant in Ruben Amorim's Red Devils, licking their wounds after a disastrous past season, against Mikel Arteta's Gunners, who are the blueprint on how to get out of the current mess.
Both clubs have strengthened their squads this past summer and haven't been afraid to splash the cash on some of Europe's top talent. Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were among the league's top scorers last season and they've arrived at Old Trafford.
Viktor Gyokeres was Amorim's ideal candidate for the United number nine role but the Swede desired a move to the Emirates. But the 27-year-old wasn't initially Arteta's preferred choice at the start of the summer transfer window.
Benjamin Sesko could come back to haunt Arteta
Another big-money striker who was on the move this summer was Benjamin Sesko. The Slovenian forward joined United in a deal worth up to £74m including add-ons.
The 22-year-old has become one of Europe's most highly-admired frontmen, undergoing fine development at RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg. He struck 21 goals across competitions last season and appears to have the confidence to be a success.
Those attributes were liked by Arteta earlier this summer, so much so that the Spaniard actually made him his priority for Arsenal. It was reported by Football Transfers' Steve Kay that the reason why the North Londoners preferred Sesko over Gyokeres was that he'd be a long-term asset.
Sesko's price tag seemed to be a problem, and the Gunners switched their focus to Gyokeres, who'd been lined up by United's transfer chiefs to reunite with Amorim. But their decision to go with their alternative could prove costly with the Slovenia international likely eager to show them what they missed out on.
Amorim: Sesko is ready to start against Arsenal
There were suggestions that Sesko might not start on Sunday because he missed the Reds' final pre-season game against Fiorentina last weekend. He did participate in a behind-closed-doors friendly between the first-team and the U21s.
Amorim has suggested that fans might not need to wait long at all to see the Slovenian in action. He told reporters ahead of the clash at Old Trafford (via Fabrizio Romano):
"Sesko is ready to play on the physical point of view… he is ready, a big component in our league. Then he is really smart, every detail he ask, he is always thinking. We will see if he starts."
🔴🇸🇮 Rúben Amorim: “Šeško is ready to play on the physical point of view… he is ready, a big component in our league”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 15, 2025
“Then he is really smart, every detail he ask, he is always thinking. We will see if he starts”. pic.twitter.com/SRUFC6ggfJ
It seems inevitable that Gyokeres will be making his competitive debut for Arteta's side against the manager who helped him develop into one of European football's deadliest goalscorers. This Sunday could be a glimpse at whether the same outcome is on the horizon for Sesko.
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