How Arsenal might signal their reply to Julian Alvarez

Within the opening weeks of the season, Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal aspect have maybe showcased {that a} new attacker is not essentially a requirement within the closing embers of the switch window.

Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard have scored two in two. Christos Tzolis has three assists in these two video games and Bukayo Saka is again among the many targets at membership stage as effectively.

REUTERS/Hannah Mckay

Every little thing is wanting slightly rosy on the Emirates Stadium proper now however Arteta remains to be in a ruthless temper. Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus have each been alienated from the first-team image and have been advised to seek out new golf equipment.

For Jesus, that’s unsurprising. The remedy of Martinelli, nevertheless, is barely questionable. The 2 Brazilians now look destined to depart however who might exchange then? Nicely, Julian Alvarez would look like the main goal.

How Julian Alvarez might match into the Arsenal workforce

For therefore lengthy there was a way that Arsenal want an elite centre-forward to essentially take their workforce to the subsequent stage.

Nicely, they confirmed in 2024/25 that even with out one they’re able to successful the title. Certain, Viktor Gyokeres nonetheless scored 21 targets in all competitions however he isn’t the long-term reply right here. His total play leaves lots to be desired.

It is why Alvarez has been focused, it is why there are whispers of a transfer for Victor Osimhen too.

Within the type of the Argentine, they’d get such a multi-faceted ahead. In Madrid, the place he has loved a fruitful time with Atletico, the 26-year-old has largely performed as a centre-forward.

That’s the place he can be anticipated to play for the Gunners, constructing on campaigns the place he scored 29 and 20 for Atleti within the final two years.

Nonetheless, there’s far more to Alvarez than his capacity to attain and play as a striker. As he confirmed at Manchester Metropolis, that is somebody who can very a lot thrive when taking part in behind a centre-forward.

Because the Argentine performed second fiddle to Erling Haaland in 2023/24 as a second striker, he netted 19 occasions and in addition registered 13 assists. In consequence, he might give the likes of Martin Odegaard and Eberechi Eze some competitors.

He might additionally characteristic off both flank, rivalling Saka and Tzolis for minutes. His document from the wided areas remains to be slightly spectacular.

So, Alvarez ticks so many bins. He is versatile, he is inventive and he is aware of the best way to beat the goalkeeper. But, he could effectively price £130m. Arsenal want alternate options however they do have already got one spectacular younger ahead on their radar.

How Arsenal might signal their reply to Alvarez

The probability this summer time is that Alvarez doesn’t transfer to Arsenal. The payment alone shouldn’t be the issue.

The 2022 World Cup winner has wished to seal a transfer to Barcelona all summer time however there are two points; Atleti don’t need to promote to a different Spanish membership and Barca are unwilling to lodge an appropriate supply.

Alvarez has been open to the concept of heading to the Emirates Stadium however is holding out for his dream transfer the Camp Nou as a substitute.

So, Arteta and Co are more likely to head into the brand new marketing campaign and not using a new centre-forward. They might, nevertheless, nonetheless purchase a brand new winger. Bradley Barcola continues to be linked, as does Juventus’ younger celebrity Kenan Yildiz.

The £87m-rated Turkiye worldwide has attracted curiosity from Arsenal for some time now and would symbolize a superb seize by the Gunners. Based on Hand of Arsenal, an off-the-cuff bid which included money plus Martinelli, has already been submitted.

Alongside Tzolis, they’d have two of the trickiest and two of probably the most environment friendly broad gamers within the recreation at their disposal. Whereas he didn’t replicate the Greek’s 22 aim and 29 help season of 2025/26, Yildiz was nonetheless mightily spectacular and at a better stage too.

Lauded as a “horrifying expertise” by Turkish soccer professional Emre Sarigul, the 21-year-old scored 11 targets and registered 9 assists in all competitions and was notably full of life with the ball at his ft. Solely 8% of positionally related gamers in Europe’s prime 5 leagues accomplished extra progressive carries per 90 minutes and solely 11% accomplished extra profitable dribbles per 90.

So, what makes him just like Alvarez? Nicely, it will actually be his versatility. Just like the Argentine shouldn’t be an out and out centre ahead, Yildiz shouldn’t be an out and out winger.

In actual fact, just like the Atleti star, the younger Juventus ahead thrives as a second striker.

Attributable to that, the 2 gamers in query excel at linking the play. Final time period, Yildiz ranked among the many prime 9% of wingers and attacking midfielders within the prime 5 leagues for anticipated menace within the build-up phases of play. By the use of comparability, Alvarez additionally ranked among the many best 9% of strikers for the very same metric.

Alvarez and Yildiz merely love serving to others. Certain, they take pleasure in scoring targets too however they’re selfless characters on the similar time. There are only a few higher forwards in Europe proper now relating to connecting possession and initiating assaults.

The unhappy half for Arsenal is that the probability of both participant becoming a member of is slim. Fabrizio Romano took to his YouTube channel on the weekend to disclose that whereas “Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta love the participant”, Juventus are “planning for Yildiz to remain” and are “not anticipating any exit for the Turkish winger.”

REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez

Whereas each participant has their worth, it could be that for now, the Gunners need to overlook about one other goal simply as they did with Vinicius Junior and Morgan Rogers.