Whereas Arsenal followers could have been upset to see an absence of motion on switch deadline day, Mikel Arteta‘s males confirmed simply over 24 hours later that their squad is coping simply fantastic.
Their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg vs Chelsea on Tuesday night was removed from a basic, however the dwelling followers contained in the Emirates Stadium did not care one jot.
They’re in a ultimate, their first ultimate in six years, their first ultimate since that horrendous Covid-riddled season, their first since lifting the FA Cup aloft.
It is outstanding to suppose that the Gunners have not gained a serious honour since that fantastic day at Wembley. Arsenal have made an enormous quantity of progress in the previous couple of years however they’ve been the bridesmaid for thus lengthy. That showpiece occasion on the finish of March represents an opportunity to be the bride for a change.
It doesn’t matter what occurs between now and the top of the season, there may be nonetheless a way that Arteta wants an elite centre ahead to hold this group ahead. Whereas they’re performing admirably, their prime scorer is Viktor Gyokeres with simply 11. His struggles since transferring from Sporting have been nicely documented.
Does anybody fancy Julian Alvarez?
The most recent on Arsenal’s pursuit of Julian Alverez
Final summer time, Andrea Berta’s job was clear; he wanted to signal a striker, ideally one with objectives in abundance. Properly, on paper, there was no higher choice than Gyokeres.
The Swede was essentially the most prolific striker in Europe’s prime leagues final time period, finally ending 2024/25 with 54 objectives to his identify in 52 appearances.
It was by no means going to be that simple at Arsenal, however he has floated out and in of kind, attracting criticism for his heavy contact and sluggish play. Nonetheless, previous to his quite nameless exhibiting on Tuesday, he was in one of the best type of his Gunners profession, netting 4 occasions in his final six outings.
Alvarez, due to this fact, seems like one thing of a necessity. Stories in January started linking the Argentine with a transfer to the Emirates and in line with some sources, they’ve already held talks over a summer time swap.
The difficulty is that Arsenal will doubtless have to cough up a sum of £80m, which a 12 months after signing Gyokeres, hardly feels too smart. That stated, the jury stays out on their huge summer time seize and Alvarez has confirmed himself in English soccer already.
Now at Atletico Madrid, a deal that Berta really brokered throughout his time within the Spanish capital, it was at Metropolis the place he actually turned a family identify, scoring 36 objectives in 103 appearances. Not mindblowing numbers, certain, however since transferring to Atleti, he has been large.
Journalist Roy Nemer steered final season that he was “one of the best ahead on the earth” and few can argue with that, reality be advised. Within the purple and white stripes of Atletico, the Argentina worldwide has discovered the web on 40 events in 88 matches, scoring a aim each 158 minutes he is on the sphere.
He’d be an distinctive signing, however earlier than making a call, Arteta should take a look at Kai Havertz up prime.
Arsenal’s Julian Alvarez answer
You sense that if Arsenal did signal one other striker in the summertime then considered one of them should depart. The following few months, due to this fact, are pivotal for these main the road in Arteta’s aspect.
Gyokeres will, after all, be given extra time, however Gabriel Jesus is probably skating on skinny ice regardless of a comparatively spectacular return from an ACL damage. He has notably good in opposition to Inter Milan within the Champions League when he scored twice on the San Siro.
|
Arsenal’s strikers in 2026 |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Participant |
Video games |
Objectives |
|
Gyokeres |
9 |
4 |
|
Havertz |
5 |
2 |
|
Jesus |
9 |
3 |
That stated, he is incomes a bucketload within the English capital, taking dwelling a reported wage of £265k-per-week, which makes him one of many best-paid gamers in the complete Premier League. He’s additionally Arsenal’s third-highest earner. Havertz, for context, is their second-highest earner on £280k-per-week.
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The German has just a few extra years on the membership left in him but and his kind all through the again finish of 2025/26 might nicely dictate the place Arsenal determine to spend in the summertime.
Since returning to full health on the flip of the 12 months, he has been distinctive, notably in current weeks. Havertz burst again into the beginning lineup when he scored and assisted final week in opposition to Kairat Almaty in Europe.
His efficiency in opposition to Leeds did not supply the identical pleasure however his cameo in opposition to Chelsea reminded supporters of simply how good and certainly, simply how essential he’s to Arteta’s system.
It was Havertz who scored the game-clinching aim. Performed in by Rice, he took a stupendous first contact, danced round Robert Sanchez and tapped the ball into an empty web. The Arsenal gamers, substitutes included, raced over to him and with that, that they had sealed their place within the ultimate.
Havertz and Alvarez are completely different however they do share some key similarities. Not simply content material with scoring objectives, they’re proficient probability creators too and revel in taking part in in a second striker function. In spite of everything, Paul Merson described him as a “Bergkamp sort of participant” just a few years in the past and he was maybe top-of-the-line we have seen within the Premier League at taking part in simply behind the striker, quite than because the out-and-out quantity 9. Thierry Henry will testify to that.
They don’t seem to be your typical run-in behind striker like Gyokeres is, however they may hyperlink the play, convey others into the sport and contribute to extra phases of play.
Maybe the prime instance of this got here throughout Argentina’s profitable World Cup marketing campaign in 2022. Whereas Alvarez was chosen because the 9, Lionel Messi’s lack of defensive means meant it was the previous Man Metropolis man who usually got here again into midfield to assist defend and supply an additional physique out of possession.
Whereas Arsenal’s collective defensive efforts are very pretty break up up and executed, it is a function that mimics Havertz’s at Arsenal. He does not play on the final shoulder however will maintain issues up and are available deeper to gather the ball, lead the press and assist defend.
It is arguably why the Gunners have struggled taking part in with a extra conventional striker within the type of Gyokeres. It is merely not what they’ve been used to in recent times. Alvarez might supply extra in behind than Havertz does, however the 26-year-old’s positional flexibility and adaptableness are first-class. He’d be an distinctive signing however maybe they already a few of his principal qualities within the German.
This summer time will definitely be very attention-grabbing for Arsenal available in the market.
£45m star simply had his finest ever recreation in an Arsenal shirt vs Chelsea
Arsenal are into their first main ultimate for six years after defeating Chelsea 4-2 on combination.
