Julian Alvarez to Arsenal appears increasingly plausible after recent events involving the Argentine striker at Atletico Madrid, with Pep Guardiola having previously indicated the player’s qualities mirrored those of the man Arsenal may use him to replace.
Gabriel Jesus spent five and a half years working under Guardiola at Manchester City before his switch to Arsenal in July 2022. That same window saw Alvarez arrive as Jesus’s replacement at the Etihad, and his early displays quickly prompted observers to draw parallels between the two forwards.
Guardiola, who departed City last season as one of the most successful managers in Premier League history, spoke in 2023 about the similarities between the players, particularly their diligent pressing and defensive contribution. He described Alvarez as someone who brought immense work ethic and compared him favorably to Jesus in terms of his aggression without the ball. Guardiola expressed his delight at Alvarez’s contribution, noting he played frequently and impacted the team positively. He highlighted Alvarez’s versatility in wider positions, his vision, his ability to increase intensity, and his clinical finishing ability in both training and matches, calling him a special player and world champion.
Jesus has found himself on the market this summer after an injury-plagued spell in north London that followed a promising beginning to his Arsenal tenure. At 29, he no longer possesses the same speed and incision that made him such a danger four years ago, and Italian club Napoli are prepared to pay roughly £20m for his signature.
Alvarez, by contrast, has flourished into an elite-level attacker since his switch from City to Atletico Madrid in August 2024. The World Cup winner has featured prominently among Mikel Arteta’s main summer objectives.
The proposed fee exceeding £100m, which Arsenal are understood to be prepared to meet, indicates Arteta views Alvarez not merely as a successor to Jesus but as someone capable of overtaking Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres as his preferred striking option.
Alvarez faced hostility from Atletico supporters during Sunday’s fixture, with the 26-year-old brought on as a second-half substitute in Atletico’s second La Liga match of the campaign after being omitted from Simeone’s initial squad selection for the season opener.
The forward encountered derision from home fans, who expressed their displeasure through jeers and whistles when his name was read out. Following the final whistle, an Atletico official instructed him to leave the pitch immediately rather than join teammates in acknowledging the supporters, apparently to avoid further backlash, and he was subjected to further loud booing as he trudged off.
The incident suggests the fractured relationship between Alvarez and the Madrid club has become irreversible after his repeated attempts to secure a departure from the Spanish capital. Should his favoured move to Barcelona remain blocked, the 2022 World Cup winner could find Arsenal to be his most realistic remaining option during the closing days of the transfer window.