Arsenal have been linked with a potential deal for Julian Alvarez as they continue their search for a striker, with Bernardo Silva one of those to have heaped praise on the former Manchester City forward.
The Gunners had a steady but uninspiring season, failing to secure any silverware for the fifth year in a row. Since their FA Cup triumph in the 2019/20 season and subsequent Community Shield victory, Arsenal have not won a trophy - with Chelsea, Manchester United and even bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur claiming major honours during this period.
Manager Mikel Arteta has been given time to rebuild the club and has now led Arsenal to three consecutive second-place finishes in the Premier League - only being outdone by Pep Guardiola's dominant Manchester City and Arne Slot's impressive Liverpool.
Many attribute Arsenal's lack of league title success to their attacking options, and Arteta has faced a lot of criticism for not signing a dedicated number nine to lead the attack. It appears that the Spaniard is looking to change this narrative for the 2025/26 season, as he aims to strengthen the north London team's striking options during the summer transfer window.
Sporting CP's Viktor Gyokeres has been linked over the past few months, with the formidable striker reportedly available for £60million. Reports from Portugal suggest that the Gunners entered talks with Gyokeres' agent this week, as representatives travelled to Lisbon to discuss a potential deal.
However, the Swede could face competition from a familiar face to Arteta's ex-mentor Guardiola, with Atletico Madrid's Alvarez emerging as another standout candidate for the Gunners' frontline. Arsenal are said to have included Alvarez on their transfer shortlist after his impressive stint with City, bolstered by glowing endorsements from former team-mate Silva.
Gyokeres
Gyokeres could be back to square one (Image: Getty Images)
Silva has already let the Arsenal dressing room know what they could expect from Alvarez when he praised him following his pivotal role in City's 3-2 Champions League victory over RB Leipzig in 2023, where the Argentine's winning goal confirmed top spot in their group.
Reflecting on Alvarez's influence in the team, Silva said: "If Erling Haaland is not present, we're not going to say that it is not important and we're not going to miss him because of course, we're going to miss him.
"But we have Julian Alvarez to play striker and he's a top, top striker. So, we're not going to say that the team will look bad. Our job is to find solutions and do our best with the players we have in the moment but of course, we miss all of our injured players. In this case, you are talking about Erling and of course, we miss him."
After moving to Madrid in an £81m deal last summer, Silva insisted that Alvarez left a notable gap in City's attack. He shared an inside look into their bond and the Argentinian forward's success post-City in 2024.
Julian Alvarez.
Alvarez has already proven his worth in the Premier League (Image: Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Silva added: "I miss him a lot because he is an exceptional team-mate and I am very fond of him. I am very happy that he is doing well. He is a wonderful guy, and he deserves everything.
"Whenever I see Julián score a goal, I'm very happy for him; he's doing very well. Atlético de Madrid is having a very good season. I am very happy for him."
Since his move to Atlético, Alvarez has scored an impressive 29 goals and provided seven assists in 54 appearances. However, he's yet to secure any trophies in Spain due to the dominance of Real Madrid and Barcelona.
Julian Alvarez.
Alvarez formed a close bond with Silva at City (Image: ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal icon Thierry Henry has weighed in on the impact Alvarez could have at the Emirates Stadium, praising the forward's contribution as a game-changer in crucial moments. Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, Henry said: "If you look at all the teams recently that have been winning big things, more often than not, ok you can look at the front three and look at the team, but look at who is on the bench.
"How many times a guy coming from the bench saved the season. I think it was last season, when Haaland went eight games without scoring. Julian Alvarez, bang, bang, bang. Riyadh Mahrez before, bang, bang, bang. Scoring goals.
"After who scored the most, Haaland, when he wasn't scoring or he wasn't there or he was injured, Julian Alvarez, boom, goal. Riyadh Mahrez, boom, goal."
Julian Alvarez.
Alvarez has been performing at a high level again in Spain (Image: Maria Gracia Jimenez/Soccrates/Getty Images)
Henry added: "One of my favourite nines out there at the moment is Julian Alvarez. We've been talking about it, putting pressure, playing it long, whatever you want to do.
"Did you see the free kick he scored the other day? He can hold the ball long. He played at the Olympic games. He played the Copa America. He doesn't say he's tired, hopefully nothing bad happens to him, he's played everything. And the way he plays it, I just like him. Is it possible? I don't know."
Whether Arteta opts for Liga Portugal champion Gyokeres or Treble-winner Alvarez, the addition of a new forward to the squad will undoubtedly thrill the Arsenal faithful as they hope to secure that elusive Premier League title.
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Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus with the Arsenal Therapy Dog Win during the Arsenal Men's team group shoot at London Colney on September 18, 2023
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