Arsenal may have just ended their 22 year wait for Premier League glory, but one legendary pundit believes Mikel Arteta should still be looking to upgrade his striking options this summer. Ally McCoist has identified Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez as the ideal replacement for Viktor Gyokeres, arguing the Argentina international represents a clear step up in quality despite the Swede’s contributions to the title winning campaign.
Gyokeres, signed from Sporting for £64 million last summer, recorded 14 goals in 36 league appearances during his debut season at the Emirates Stadium. The striker endured a subdued start to life in north London but improved significantly as the campaign progressed, ultimately playing his part in securing Arsenal’s first league title since 2003. Yet McCoist insists there remains room for improvement in the Gunners’ ing options, particularly with Alvarez potentially available from Atletico Madrid this summer.
Speaking on talkSPORT, McCoist responded emphatically when asked whether Alvarez would represent an upgrade on Gyokeres. The former Rangers striker praised the Swedish international for his progress throughout the season but maintained that Alvarez possesses greater quality. McCoist suggested that while Arteta could reasonably expect continued improvement from Gyokeres, the 26 year old Argentine would offer a more immediate enhancement to Arsenal’s frontline. Alvarez has netted an impressive 49 goals across two seasons with Atletico following his move from Manchester City, where he won consecutive Premier League titles.
The timing of any potential transfer business will depend largely on Arsenal’s preparation for Saturday’s Champions League final against Paris Saint Germain in Budapest. Former Gunners midfielder Paul Merson has backed his old club to secure a stunning double, predicting a narrow 1-0 victory over the French champions. Merson believes the opening goal will prove decisive in what he expects to be a cagey encounter, suggesting PSG’s fear of falling behind could play directly into Arsenal’s hands.
Competition for Alvarez’s signature is expected to be fierce, with Barcelona also expressing strong interest in the versatile forward. The Argentina international is understood to be keen on departing Atletico Madrid at the end of the season, opening the door for a potential summer move. Arsenal overcame Alvarez’s current employers in the Champions League semi finals to reach their first European Cup final since 2006, giving Arteta’s recruitment team a close look at the player they may soon pursue.
Whether Arsenal choose to reinvest in their ing options or place faith in Gyokeres’ continued development will become clear once the summer transfer window opens in earnest. For now, all attention remains fixed on Saturday’s showpiece final in Hungary, where the Gunners have an opportunity to cap a remarkable season with European football’s ultimate prize. Success against PSG would not only deliver the club’s first Champions League trophy but also strengthen Arteta’s hand in the transfer market, making elite talents like Alvarez even more attainable as Arsenal seek to elish a period of sustained dominance both domestically and in Europe.
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