21 goals last season. Still, it could be the end for Viktor Gyökeres at Arsenal – because now Mikel Arteta has been blind to another striker. Julian Alvarez. And the buzz circulating in the transfer rumours makes even the most seasoned supporters open their eyes.
Arsenal who won their first game of the season 3 – 0 over Coventry are once again clear favourites to win the Premier League title, know they need to get stronger to be able to stop Paris Saint-Germain from taking their 3rd Champions League title in a row. – That’s where Julian Alvarez comes in, even always critical Gary Neville thinks it will be impossible to stop Arsenal with the Argentine striker in the squad.
Read on Sporten: Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard – The mentality is not to defend the title, but to attack it
The road to Arsenal – and the road ahead
When Viktor Gyökeres arrived at the Emirates Stadium from Sporting last summer for £55 million, expectations were huge. The 28-year-old came with a backpack full of goals – 21 in all competitions – and a thirst to finally break through in one of the world’s toughest leagues.
But the road has been heavier than many imagined. Gyökeres has never quite managed to establish himself as the first choice. In the 2025/26 season, he never started permanently, and when the series kicked off against Coventry, it was Kai Havertz who gained confidence ahead of the Swede.
Now, just one season after the transfer, Gyökeres could be on his way out – as a pawn in a shocking swap offer.
Read: Fredrikstad sells off football players so there are only small planks left
£65 million + Gyökeres – for one man
According to Spanish Diario Sport , Arsenal have put a bold proposal on the table: Viktor Gyökeres plus £68.5 million – against Julian Alvarez from Atlético Madrid.
The Argentine has long had his eyes fixed on Barcelona, but the Catalans’ finances are creaking at the seams. That opens the door wide for Arsenal – and Arteta has clearly decided to slam it open.
Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano confirms that talks are ongoing, and Arsenal’s sporting director Andrea Berta – with long roots at Atlético – is using old contacts to get the deal going.
And the signals from Alvarez himself? His head is already turned towards London. In terms of salary, there is no obstacle either: the 25-year-old can double his salary with a move to Emirates.
Neville: “Then they win everything”
After Arsenal’s convincing 3-0 win over Coventry on Friday – in which Martin Ødegaard scored the third and was named the best player on the pitch – Gary Neville spoke out on Sky Sports:
“We’ve heard that Alvarez wants to go to Barcelona, but if Arsenal get hold of him, then it lights up. Then you have a world-class striker in addition to all the other world-class players in defense and midfield.
“Then they won’t just be Premier League champions. Then you think that they can take the extra step and win the Champions League as well.
Neville points to the little extra – the magic that decides the close games:
“He needs that little magic in front of goal. The one that makes when you don’t play well, you still win. Does he have enough of it? I’m not entirely sure about that.
Time is running out
Arsenal travel to Aston Villa on August 31 – the transfer window closes on September 1.
The question is whether Arteta will get his dream striker in time. One thing is for sure: if the switch goes through, Gyökeres’ time in North London will be remembered as short, intense – and far from what anyone had imagined.
Premier League – Live Sports
