Arsenal once again spent heavily during the summer as Mikel Arteta strengthened several areas of his squad in pursuit of another Premier League title.
David Raya was given additional competition with the arrival of Illan Meslier, while Ezri Konsa joined the defence to provide further depth alongside William Saliba and Gabriel.
Bruno Guimaraes was another major addition in midfield, arriving from Newcastle United, while Christos Tzolis was brought in to replace Gabriel Martinelli on the wing.
However, there was one obvious area where the Gunners did not make a major addition. Gabriel Jesus departed for Barcelona, yet Arsenal failed to bring in a direct replacement up front.
Now, though, the north London club appear to have been handed an unexpected boost in their pursuit of one of Europe’s biggest attacking names.
Arsenal Handed Julian Alvarez Boost
Arsenal’s hopes of signing Julian Alvarez could have been revived after Barcelona effectively ended their interest in the Atletico Madrid forward.
The Gunners reportedly explored a blockbuster deal for the Argentina international during the latter stages of the summer window, but were unable to convince Atletico to part company with their star striker.
Alvarez had been particularly keen on a move to Barcelona, making no secret of his desire to join the Catalan giants. However, that possibility now appears to have disappeared, potentially leaving Arsenal with a clearer route to the former Manchester City forward in the future.
Barcelona sporting director Deco confirmed that the club had attempted to sign Alvarez but ultimately accepted that Atletico were unwilling to sell.
“The idea has always been to bring in a forward with good movement and the ability to link up with others, and Julian (Alvarez) was one such player,” Barcelona’s sporting director Deco told the Portugal Football Summit this week.
“It hasn’t been possible; we made an offer… the club has always said they wouldn’t sell him, so we have to look for other solutions.
“Julian is in the past; we have to look ahead, and we’re happy. I hope he’s doing well too, that he’s helping his club.”
That statement could be significant for Arsenal. With Barcelona no longer pursuing Alvarez, the Gunners may face less competition should they decide to revive their interest in the future.
The situation is particularly interesting given Arsenal’s failure to replace Jesus directly during the summer. Barcelona eventually signed the Brazilian for €10 million, with Deco admitting that his arrival was somewhat unexpected despite the similarities between the profile of Jesus and the player they had initially wanted.
Jesus has already made an encouraging start to life in Spain, scoring twice in only 41 minutes of action for his new club.
Alvarez Struggling at Atletico
Alvarez’s situation at Atletico Madrid is considerably less positive.
The Argentine has failed to score so far this season and has also endured a difficult relationship with sections of the club’s support, having been jeered by Atletico fans.
Diego Simeone has also largely used Alvarez from the bench in La Liga so far, although the expectation is that his involvement will increase as the campaign progresses.
The contrast could eventually become relevant to Arsenal. If Alvarez’s difficult start continues and his relationship with Atletico deteriorates further, the possibility of a future transfer could become more realistic.
Former Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has previously praised his compatriot in glowing terms, describing Alvarez as “astonishing”.
For Arsenal, the opportunity is clear. They opted against replacing Jesus during the summer despite his departure, and Alvarez would represent a very different level of attacking option should the club eventually decide to make another move.
The Gunners will still have to contend with Atletico’s reluctance to sell, as well as Alvarez’s contract situation and likely valuation. But with Barcelona now seemingly out of the picture, Arsenal could have one fewer obstacle to overcome.
