Arsenal currently sit first in the Premier League with 70 points from 32 matches, but there has been a shift in the mood among the fans in recent weeks. The Gunners have won just two of their last five matches, scoring five goals and conceding six during that stretch. The most damaging result came on Saturday, when Arsenal fell to a disappointing 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth, a result that could prove costly in their title race.
Mikel Arteta‘s side now host Sporting CP in the Champions League quarter-final second leg tonight before a massive Premier League clash away at Manchester City on Sunday. The pressure at the top of the table is hitting home, and a summer rebuild has never felt more necessary.
Arsenal prepare to change their attack with a €120m Argentine
With the pressure mounting, Arsenal are actively trying to agree personal terms with Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez, according to CaughtOffside. Atlético Madrid’s top brass have said publicly that Álvarez is not for sale, but Enrique Cerezo gave a revealing response when pressed on the matter, simply saying: “Julian has a contract.” This aligns with wider European reports suggesting the club may reconsider for the right price, with Atlético believed to value the Argentine at roughly €120 million.
Álvarez has bagged 45 goals and provided 15 assists in 98 games for Atlético since joining from Manchester City. His La Liga numbers this season speak for themselves: eight goals and four assists in 29 league appearances, a goal involvement of 0.57 per 90 minutes, and an npxG output that puts him in the top 87th percentile of the league.
His 83.67% pass completion rate and 2.22 key passes per game show he is a player who does much more than just put the ball in the net. Arsenal’s interest seems tied to a potential sale of Gabriel Jesus, which would free up the funds to make the deal happen.
PSG have tracked Álvarez for a long time and could jump back into the race, while Chelsea are still watching from the sidelines, though their move would likely depend on selling players like Liam Delap first. Barcelona, despite their money troubles, still see Álvarez as their primary target to eventually replace Robert Lewandowski.
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Would Álvarez actually solve Arsenal’s real attacking problem?
The honest answer is both yes and no, and that is where things get interesting for Arsenal. For Arteta, who wants a fluid, hard-working frontline capable of leading a high press, Álvarez is a perfect option, as he can lead the line, play as a second striker, or drift wide. That versatility is exactly what the Gunners are missing right now, as Gabriel Jesus has been hit-or-miss and Kai Havertz has spent two seasons splitting opinion.
The bigger worry, however, isn’t whether Álvarez fits the tactical setup, but whether Arsenal’s problems are about the system rather than just the players. Three straight domestic losses, including a Carabao Cup final defeat to City and an FA Cup exit to Southampton, suggest the scoring issues go deeper than one position. Álvarez would bring pace, energy in the press, and top-tier finishing, but he wouldn’t fix Arsenal’s struggles with set pieces or the defensive mistakes they’ve made this month.
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At €120 million, it’s a huge price tag for a 26-year-old with eight league goals this year. If Arsenal decide to pull the trigger on that kind of money, they need to be sure the rest of the squad is being reinforced too, rather than hoping one star signing can fix a shaky foundation.
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