Arsenal are riding the crest of a wave in the Premier League, and although they suffered a first home defeat of the season against Manchester United last time out, remain four points clear at the summit.
This mid-season blip should be overcome. The quest toward the league title was never going to be plain sailing, and when looking at the campaign as a whole, it's hard to argue against Arsenal having been the strongest team in Europe this season, this week wrapping up their Champions League group phase with an eighth win from eight, defeating Kairat Almaty.
Mikel Arteta has created an incredible unit, but it's fair to say that it's easy to pin down the biggest weakness: the absence of an elite centre-forward.
Mikel Arteta manager of Arsenal applauds the fans
Viktor Gyokeres was supposed to be that man, but after joining the Gunners from Sporting Lisbon for £64m last summer, he has flattered to deceive, and technical director Andrea Berta is now looking at signing an upgrade.
Arsenal plans to sign a striker
Kai Havertz is fit once again, and his goalscoring performance in midweek has reminded the Arsenal faithful that they have a dynamic German forward who will add a dimension over the business months of the season.
However, Havertz's fitness levels have seen him sidelined for a long time, with the club expressing concerns over the 26-year-old after he had returned to training this month.
Even a fully-fit Havertz has endured tough spells in front of goal since leaving Chelsea for the Emirates, and with this in mind, it's understandable that the powers that be want to sign an upgrade.
As per TEAMtalk, that man might be Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez. Having been linked with a return to the Premier League of late, the Argentina international has emerged as a top target for the Gunners.
The report states that Arsenal are 'preparing to escalate their interest' in the forward, and are willing to include first-team players Gabriel Martinelli and/or Gabriel Jesus as makeweights in a potential transfer.
atletico-madrid-alvarez
The Gunners have already held talks with the Argentine's agents, registering their interest in the player, but they are not alone with Chelsea and PSG also in contact.
Andrea Berta, who brokered Alvarez's big-money move from Man City to Atleti, could be key in the negotiations here.
That said, valued at £80m by Atletico, this is not going to be a cheap deal to pull off.
How Julian Alvarez compares to Kai Havertz
Alvarez cut his teeth under Pep Guardiola's tutelage with Manchester City, joining the imperious Premier League giants from River Plate in his homeland.
Julian Alvarez Man City stats (timeless)
His big-money move to La Liga 18 months ago raised a few eyebrows, but having returned 40 goals and 13 assists across 87 outings for Diego Simeone's side, he's demonstrated elite quality.
Actually hailed as "the best forward in the world right now" by journalist Roy Nemer, who was marvelling at his clinical edge in the final third, Alvarez has continued to provide steady output in the Spanish top flight, scoring seven times this term but also fashioning nine big chances, averaging two key passes per game.
It goes without saying that the 25-year-old is offering more than Gyokeres - especially when you consider how he has played an instrumental part in a multi-title-winning English outfit - but he could also supersede Havertz in Arteta's system.
The Germany international's return from a long injury layoff comes at the perfect time, but Arsenal still don't have an innately clinical goalscorer, someone to rival the likes of City striker Erling Haaland.
Kai Havertz's Premier League Stats by Season
Season
25/26
24/25
23/24
Joins Arsenal from Chelsea for £65m
22/23
21/22
20/21
Data via Transfermarkt
This is not a high-profile goalscorer, even if Havertz boasts far more technicality than most. But Alvarez is a dynamic centre-forward himself, and having grown into a first-class ball striker in recent years, could be the perfect fit that an Arsenal side who have almost achieved greatness.
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