Man United vs. Arsenal: How Mikel Arteta's returning hero can stifle 'Adebayor-esque' Benjamin Sesko

The return of Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes will be crucial to stifling the "Adebayor-esque" Benjamin Sesko in Sunday's Premier League clash with Manchester United, Charles Watts believes.

While Viktor Gyokeres aims to haunt former boss Ruben Amorim, Sesko endeavours to get one over his old admirers, having opted to join the Red Devils' ranks after Arsenal pulled out of negotiations with RB Leipzig over a summer transfer.

The Gunners were keeping tabs on the Slovenia international for over a year but felt that Leipzig were being unfair with their demands, allowing Man United to swoop in and conclude a £73.3m deal with the Bundesliga club after Arsenal signed Gyokeres.

Sesko's 6ft 4in frame naturally brings major aerial benefits, and the 22-year-old has won 57.9% of his duels off the ground over the past 365 days, putting him in the top 4% for all forwards in the big five European leagues.

Meanwhile, Arsenal's weaknesses at defending set-pieces last season were well-documented, and Watts is wary of Sesko potentially getting some joy in the Gunners penalty area, but the return of the aerially dominant Gabriel could prove significant.

Can Arsenal's Gabriel stifle 'Adebayor-esque' Sesko?

"It's an area they'll have to look at, but Gabriel's return is huge," he added. "When you look at the percentage of goals that Arsenal conceded from set pieces last season, the massive majority of them was when Gabriel wasn't in the team. He makes that much of a difference.

“Maybe that is another reason for starting [Kai] Havertz over Gyokeres, because Havertz in that near post area defensively from set pieces is really really important for Arsenal. It's something they'll definitely have to keep an eye on if Sesko starts, because he is a monster in the air.

“That leap that he has is huge - kind of Adebayor-esque from back in the day - but having Gabriel back is going to be so, so important. He is the leader of that back four - when he's not there they look a completely different team. Even in pre-season, the game against Tottenham, they're all over the place from set pieces. It’s definitely an area that Arsenal are going have to watch out for.”

Gabriel's Arsenal are beginning their mission to end 22 years of Premier League hurt against one of their fiercest rivals at the Theatre of Dreams, and they head north on the back of a resounding 3-0 triumph over Athletic Bilbao in the Emirates Cup, where Gyokeres and Kai Havertz were both on target.

The former broke the deadlock with a sumptuous header from Martin Zubimendi's delivery, before also coming agonisingly close to a second aerial goal in the second half, only for a combination of the post and Unai Simon to deny him a brace.

Substitute striker Havertz then rounded off the scoring with a brilliant run and finish into the far side of the net, and speaking to Sports Mole, Arsenal expert Watts just about sided with the Germany international when asked who he would pick up front at Old Trafford.

"Flip of the coin" between Gyokeres and Havertz in Man Utd clash

“I don't know what he's going to do! At full-back and up front I'm just not sure," Watts said. "The whole way through the summer, I really thought no matter what happened Havertz would start at Old Trafford. When you look at how Arteta has treated new signings, it tends to be after the first international break that he really starts to bring them in, gives them that first few weeks just to acclimatise.

“But Havertz's little injury opened a bit of a door for Gyokeres there. The Villarreal game wasn't brilliant by any means, but there were massive, massive improvements against Athletic. I would probably go with Havertz, better the devil you know type thing, but it is flip of the coin territory. The way Gyokeres played against Athletic, the way his teammates began to adjust certainly opened the door for him to start in this game.

“It is mad. Honestly if you'd said to me Arsenal play Man United opening day of the season, they've got Gyokeres versus Sesko up front, I'd have been like ‘Yep, I know, [Benjamin] Sesko starting for Arsenal and Gyokeres starting for Manchester United’. The fact it's the other way around?! I would never have predicted it.

“But that's the way things have worked out. Arsenal didn't firm up their long-standing interest in Sesko, Gyokeres turned his nose up on a reunion with [Ruben] Amorim at Old Trafford, so the narrative is there. As long as Sesko’s had a decent week's training, I wouldn't be at all surprised if he starts.”

Arsenal could only claim a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford last season, but the Gunners have found the back of the net in each of their last 11 Premier League away games against the Red Devils since a 1-0 loss in November 2013.

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