Arsenal are understood to be stepping up their plans to sign a forward this summer and have identified Benjamin Sesko as an option.

The Gunners were knocked out of the Champions League quarter-finals on Wednesday night following a 1-0 defeat against Bayern Munich, following a 2-2 draw in the first leg at the Emirates Stadium. Joshua Kimmich scored the only goal that separated the two teams, confirming Arsenal's exit from the competition.

Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta admitted that the club are short of a striker who can score significant amount of goals in a season, suggesting that might have been key to their qualification to the semi-finals of the competition. He said: "The reality is we don’t have a striker who is going to score 35, 40 goals – and we have to live with that.

"We have many other qualities. And today’s the day to stick behind the players because they have given us so much, they have taken us on this journey and we still have the Premier League to play."

Arsenal have scored 75 goals in the Premier League this season, which is a figure surpassed by only Manchester City on 76 goals. Bukayo Saka is the Gunners' top goal scorer with 18 goals, while Leandro Trossard sits second, having netted 13 times.

Although Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz have also reached double figures, and sit joint third on ten goals, it is fair to say that the Gunners are lacking prolific goalscorer.

Arteta is keen to boost his attacking options ahead of next season and owner Stan Kroenke could do just that as football.london understands that Sesko is on a wish list ahead of the summer transfer window.

Meanwhile, the Evening Standard state that Arsenal have scouted Sesko this season. He is said to also have Chelsea and Manchester United on his trail.

They add that Sesko's representatives have been guests at both Chelsea and United's games this campaign. Despite completing the move to RB Leipzig from Red Bull Salzburg last summer, the German side are preparing for life without the 20-year-old and have reportedly sounded out replacements.

The forward is claimed to have a €50million (£43m) release clause in his contract that is due to become active at the end of the season. Sesko, who can also play as a winger, is an attractive option for the Gunners.

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