Arsenal have already got their own Alvarez, he’s a “Bergkamp kind of player”

Whereas Arsenal followers might have been disillusioned 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 high quality.

Their Carabao Cup semi-final second leg vs Chelsea on Tuesday night was removed from a traditional, however the house followers contained in the Emirates Stadium did not care one jot.

They’re in a last, their first last in six years, their first last since that horrendous Covid-riddled season, their first since lifting the FA Cup aloft.

It is exceptional to assume that the Gunners have not gained a significant honor since that high quality day at Wembley. Arsenal have made an enormous quantity of progress in the previous couple of years however they’ve been the bridesmaid for therefore 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’s nonetheless a way that Arteta wants an elite heart ahead to hold this crew ahead. Whereas they’re performing admirably, their high scorer is Viktor Gyokeres with simply 11. His struggles since transferring from Sporting have been properly documented.

Does anybody fancy Julian Alvarez?

The newest on Arsenal’s pursuit of Julian Alverez

Final summer time, Andrea Berta’s process was clear; he wanted to signal a striker, ideally one with targets in abundance. Properly, on paper, there was no higher possibility than Gyokeres.

The Swede was probably the most prolific striker in Europe’s high leagues final time period, ultimately ending 2024/25 with 54 targets to his title in 52 appearances.

It was by no means going to be that straightforward at Arsenal, however he has floated out and in of kind, attracting criticism for his heavy contact and sluggish play. Nonetheless, previous to his slightly nameless displaying on Tuesday, he was in the most effective type of his Gunners profession, netting 4 occasions in his final six outings.

Alvarez, subsequently, looks like one thing of a necessity. Reviews in January started linking the Argentina with a transfer to the Emirates and based on some sources, they’ve already held talks over a summer time swap.

The difficulty is that Arsenal will probably must cough up a sum of £80m, which a yr after signing Gyokeres, hardly feels too wise. That mentioned, the jury stays out on their massive 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 grew to become a family title, scoring 36 targets in 103 appearances. Not mindblowing numbers, certain, however since transferring to Atleti, he has been super.

Journalist Roy Nemer prompt final season that he was “the most effective ahead on the planet” and few can argue with that, reality be instructed. Within the crimson and white stripes of Atletico, the Argentina worldwide has discovered the web on 40 events in 88 matches, scoring a purpose each 158 minutes he is on the sector.

He’d be an distinctive signing, however earlier than making a choice, Arteta should take a look at Kai Havertz up high.

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 subsequent few months, subsequently, are pivotal for these main the road in Arteta’s facet.

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 significantly good towards Inter Milan within the Champions League when he scored twice on the San Siro.

That mentioned, he is incomes a bucketload within the English capital, taking house a reported wage of £265k-per-week, which makes him one of many best-paid gamers in all the Premier League. He’s additionally Arsenal’s third-highest earner. Havertz, for context, is their second-highest earner on £280k-per-week.

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 properly dictate the place Arsenal determine to spend in the summertime.

Since returning to full health on the flip of the yr, he has been distinctive, significantly in current weeks. Havertz burst again into the beginning lineup when he scored and assisted final week towards Kairat Almaty in Europe.

His efficiency towards Leeds did not supply the identical pleasure however his cameo towards Chelsea reminded supporters of simply how good and certainly, simply how vital he’s to Arteta’s system.

It was Havertz who scored the game-clinching purpose. Performed in by Rice, he took a ravishing first contact, danced round Robert Sanchez and tapped the ball into an empty internet. The Arsenal gamers, substitutes included, raced over to him and with that, that they had sealed their place within the last.

Havertz and Alvarez are totally different however they do share some key similarities. Not simply content material with scoring targets, they’re proficient likelihood creators too and luxuriate in enjoying in a second striker position. 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 among the best we have seen within the Premier League at enjoying simply behind the striker, slightly than because the out-and-out quantity 9. Thierry Henry will testify to that.

They are not your typical run-in behind striker like Gyokeres is, however they may hyperlink the play, deliver 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 capability 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 position that mimics Havertz’s at Arsenal. He would not play on the final shoulder however will maintain issues up and deeper come to gather the ball, lead the press and assist defend.

It is arguably why the Gunners have struggled enjoying with a extra conventional striker within the type of Gyokeres. It is merely not what they’ve been used to lately. Alvarez might supply extra in behind than Havertz does, however the 26-year-old’s positional flexibility and flexibility are first-class. He’d be an distinctive signing however maybe they already a few of his primary qualities within the German.

This summer time will definitely be very attention-grabbing for Arsenal available in the market.

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