Alvarez to Arsenal: Can He Replace Gyokeres?
| Julian Alvarez, the perfect fit for Arsenal? |
Arsenal eyes Julian Alvarez as potential replacement for struggling Viktor Gyokeres. From Madrid to the Emirates: Is Alvarez the answer to Arsenal's striker woes? Can he make an impact in North London?
Summer 2026 transfer targets, clubs already planning ahead while 2025/26 season continues...
Even though there are still a couple of months left in the 2025/26 season, clubs worldwide have already begun eyeing potential signings to strengthen their squads for the next campaign.
With the current season far from decided in many leagues, sporting directors and scouts are working behind the scenes to identify key players who could make an immediate impact come summer 2026. Whether it’s addressing defensive frailties, injecting creativity into midfield, or finding that clinical striker, early planning is now standard practice in modern football.
This proactive approach allows clubs to get ahead of the competition, negotiate better deals, and avoid the chaos of last-minute panic buys. As the 2025/26 season enters its final stretch, expect transfer rumours to intensify the race for the best talents has quietly begun.
Arsenal's interest in Julian Alvarez could indeed pose a challenge for Viktor Gyokeres, who joined the Gunners last summer. With Alvarez's impressive record at Atletico Madrid, scoring 45 goals and providing 15 assists in 98 appearances, Arsenal might be looking to bolster their attack.
Gyokeres, on the other hand, has had a relatively quiet season, scoring 16 goals and registering two assists in 42 appearances. While he's still a talented player, Arsenal might be seeking more firepower, especially with Gabriel Jesus' contract expiring next season.
It's worth noting that Arsenal has already had talks with Alvarez's agents, and they're reportedly willing to break their transfer record to secure his signature. However, Atletico Madrid is determined to keep him, and a hefty price tag of around £108m has been slapped on his head.
Arsenal's progress under Mikel Arteta has been impressive, with the team showing incremental improvement since he took the helm at the Emirates Stadium. Despite the lack of silverware, Arteta has earned the backing of the Arsenal board, evident in the significant investments in players like Declan Rice, Martin Zubimendi, Mikel Merino, and Viktor Gyokeres.
Gyökeres. The Arsenal. It’s official. pic.twitter.com/H11yMVU3gf
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) July 26, 2025
Arteta's influence extends beyond his managerial skills, as he's been praised for his attention to detail and tactical prowess, even during his playing days under Arsene Wenger. His ability to adapt and innovate has been key to Arsenal's success, with players like Martin Zubimendi thriving under his guidance.
The team's current form is a testament to Arteta's leadership, with Arsenal sitting top of the Premier League and making waves in the Champions League and FA Cup. The manager's focus on building a strong squad and fostering a winning mentality is paying off, and fans are optimistic about their title chances.
The new players have generally settled in brilliantly at Arsenal, and Viktor Gyokeres' stats look solid on paper - 16 goals and three assists in all competitions. But, focusing on his goals, while 11 in the Premier League is a decent return (and more than any teammate), there's not much else to shout about.
Gyokeres has been decent, but not spectacular, and with Arsenal's attacking options, they might be expecting more from him, especially with the likes of Julian Alvarez potentially joining the mix.
Viktor Gyokeres' stats for Arsenal haven't been impressive, with 11 goals and 0 assists in 29 Premier League matches this season. While his goal-scoring is decent, he's been lacking in other areas, like passing and overall contribution to the team.
Gyokeres' recent hat-trick for Sweden might change perceptions, but Arsenal fans are still waiting for more from him. His overall performance has been mixed, with a FotMob rating of 6.78 and 4 yellow cards. Mikel Arteta will be hoping he returns to form soon, especially with Arsenal chasing multiple titles.
Gyokeres' move to Arsenal for €63.5m (£54.8m) raised eyebrows, given his previous clubs - Sporting, Coventry, Swansea, St. Pauli, and Brighton - weren't exactly elite. Arsenal clearly saw potential, but there's been doubt if he'd translate to a top club.
Gyokeres' passing stats are worrying - just 379 passes with a 62.3% completion rate, the worst in Arsenal's first-team squad. For context, David Raya had a better completion rate (66.3%) and made over 1,1xx passes.
Gyokeres struggles continue - he wins just 32.5% of one-on-one duels, putting him at the bottom of the squad. He's also struggled in the air, winning only 30 of 102 aerial duel.
On the bright side, Gyokeres has the best shot conversion rate (22.9%), but he's taken fewer shots (70) than Saka (97) and only slightly more than Eze (67 shots in 239 fewer minutes).
Alvarez to Dagger: Will He Ditch Madrid for Arsenal?
Arsenal is reportedly considering a move for Atletico Madrid's Julian Alvarez, with talks already underway. The Argentine forward has been linked with a departure, and Arsenal sees him as a top target to bolster their attack, especially given Viktor Gyokeres' struggles this season.
🚨 Atlético Madrid director Alemany: “Julián Álvarez made it very clear that he is very happy at Atléti. Every little thing he says gets interpreted in a different way”.
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 14, 2026
“He has 4 more years on his deal and we hope he stays much longer and even extends it. I don’t see any story… pic.twitter.com/Ve6MdxEO0C
Atletico Madrid's interest in Barcelona's Ferran Torres could pave the way for Alvarez's exit, with a hefty price tag of around €150-200 million (£108m) expected. Arsenal is prepared to make a significant offer, potentially including player sales to reduce the cost.
Alvarez is said to be prioritizing a move to London, with Arsenal emerging as his preferred destination over Barcelona. The club's recent progress under Mikel Arteta has made them an attractive option, offering sporting and contractual security.
Both Barcelona and Arsenal have been eyeing Julian Alvarez, but Atletico Madrid won't let him go cheap - expect a price tag of at least €100m.
Atletico's manager Diego Simeone can't afford to lose Alvarez, especially with Antoine Griezmann already leaving for MLS this summer.
Contract Terms a Hindrance
Alvarez's new contract demand of €10m per season is causing a roadblock with Atletico Madrid, making a move this summer more likely.
Mikel Arteta would love to bring him to Arsenal - Alvarez's profile fits perfectly with Arteta's plans, and he'd be a massive boost to the squad.
Alvarez has Premier League experience, having played for Man City, and proved himself when Erling Haaland was injured. He's scoring 46 goals and providing 17 assists in 101 games for Atleti, a great return.
City might be regretting letting him join Atleti, given his stats - almost a goal every two games.
Alvarez's passing accuracy in Madrid has been top-notch, ranging from 78.5% to 91.1% - a big upgrade from Gyokeres.
Alvarez's one-on-one success rate (32.7% this Champions League season) is even slightly better than Gyokeres' best showing. Arsenal might benefit from his all-round skills, not just his goal-scoring.
| Viktor Gyokeres and Julian Alvarez radar graphic comparison - League games only 2025/26 | Opta by Stats Perform |
Alvarez's shot conversion rate in LaLiga is 14.8% - an area he needs to improve, given 110 of 181 shots were on target.
Arsenal's history suggests they value players beyond the traditional target man role, aside from Olivier Giroud's time there.
𝑱𝑼𝑳𝑰Á𝑵 1️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ 𝑨𝑳𝑽𝑨𝑹𝑬𝒁
— Atlético de Madrid (@atletienglish) March 18, 2026
100 games in red & white for our Spider 🤩❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/CGrmvJ7Jqn
Alvarez's skills and work rate fit perfectly with Arsenal's squad, making him a great fit at the Emirates.
He could definitely usurp Gyokeres if Arsenal sign him - he'd be a great addition to the team.
Julian Alvarez's stats and skills: Would he be a good fit for Arsenal?

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