Over the summer Andrea Berta's primary job at Arsenal was clear; he needed to sign a new striker.
Cast your minds back a year ago and the job was simple then too. The Gunners needed to sign a centre-forward long before Viktor Gyokeres finally arrived over the warmer months.
Gabriel Jesus' horrendous ACL injury just over 12 months ago rocked the Gunners and then when Kai Havertz sustained a hamstring problem just days after the window shut, it left Mikel Arteta with a fellow Mikel in the shape of Merino as his leading centre-forward.
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To his credit, he performed admirably, notably scoring in that remarkable 3-0 win over Real Madrid in the Champions League.
However, we're now a year on from that initial need for a new striker and it's arguably still there.
Arsenal looking at £80m striker
Gyokeres was the preferred candidate as far as Berta was concerned over the summer, but it's safe to say he's not truly set the world alight.
Jesus and Havertz are now back from injury and only time will tell as to whether it spurs the Swede into some more spritely performances.
Rice-Gyokeres-Saka-Arsenal
In that regard, the initial signs are good. Both Jesus and Gyokeres found the net at the San Siro last week as Arsenal defeated Inter Milan 3-1.
That being said, there is a sense that the Gunners need more firepower and they could land that in the shape of Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez.
Coincidentally, it was Berta who brokered Atletico's move for the Argentine back in 2024 when he left Manchester City behind which is surely only good news for Arsenal.
Reports towards the back end of last week suggested that the north Londoners have held initial talks regarding a move but they have now been told how much it may cost to bring Alvarez back to English football.
Julian-Alvarez-timeless-stats
Football Insider report that an £80m offer is likely to be accepted by Atleti if they are willing to cash in on the former Man City forward.
Pete O'Rourke stated that it would be "a huge deal for Atletico to even consider selling him" before revealing that "you’re probably looking around £80m plus for someone like him."
This isn't a move that's likely to happen this month with Arsenal needing to wait until the summer to push through a potential move.
Why Alvarez could be Arsenal's best signing since Declan Rice
The squad building performed during the Arteta regime has been nothing short of exceptional. Indeed, Arsenal have been commended for their squad depth this season. It's arguably the finest in Europe and it's certainly the best in English football.
The record-breaking arrival of Declan Rice nearly three years ago has now taken this Arsenal team to another level. Remember those two free-kicks against Madrid? Of course, you do. It has cemented the midfielder as one of the best players in the world.
Rice-Arsenal
Since his arrival, they've made further game-changing additions in the shape of Riccardo Calafiori, Martin Zubimendi and Eberechi Eze. That said, there's been one position in which the Spaniard has struggled to really nail; the centre-forward role.
It was thought that last summer would give Arsenal the necessary firepower to go on and win the biggest of trophies. Considering they are top of the Premier League and Champions League, they are well placed to do that.
Yet, before their clash with Manchester United on Sunday, Arteta's men had drawn their last two Premier League matches 0-0. Their goals in that 3-2 defeat to Michael Carrick's men then saw them find the net via an own goal and yes, you guessed it, a set-piece.
Gyokeres - the scorer of just nine goals this term - is not delivering and to put it bluntly, he ghosts through so many games without making much of an impact.
arsenal rice gyokeres
On the other hand, Alvarez ticks plenty of boxes. Not only does he have experience of English football but he's more than just a goalscorer. Crucially, he's a creator, someone who loves being involved in the play.
So far this season, the 25-year-old has taken around 50 touches per 90 minutes, double that of Gyokeres, who has taken just 24 per 90.
Previously heralded as "the best forward in the world" by journalist Roy Neymer, the Argentine netted 29 goals in 57 appearances across all competitions last term. 2025/26 hasn't been quite so prolific for Alvarez, having gone goalless across his last nine LaLiga outings, but he has still bagged 11 times.
Regardless of his current run of form, he would represent a colossal upgrade on Gyokeres and would appear to be the missing piece of the jigsaw.
Alvarez vs Gyokeres: 2025/26 League stats
Stat (per 90 mins)
Goals
Assists
Shots
Shot accuracy %
Conversion rate
Chances created
Passes completed
Pass accuracy
Touches
Stats by Squawka/Opta.
In a whole array of metrics, Alvarez betters Arsenal's number 14 this season and given he has performed in England before, it would be difficult to envisage this move being a failure.
Arteta has needed a striker for years. He's arguably needed one more than the Rice signing in 2023. Like when the former West Ham man moved to the Emirates Stadium, this could be a move that knits everything together.
Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez
It would be a landmark deal, one that could finally propel Arsenal over the line in their quest for major silverware.
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