Jamie Vardy says Arsenal already have an attacker better than Julian Alvarez

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Arsenal have been in talks with Atletico Madrid over Julian Alvarez.

A £100million fee has been touted, which Paul Scholes has urged them to go and pay without hesitating.

Mikel Arteta views the Argentine as a potential marquee signing that would elevate the Gunners’ frontline.

But Jamie Vardy thinks Arsenal already have someone better.

Ahead of tonight’s World Cup semi-final between England and Argentina, Vardy picked a combined XI on his TikTok.

When offered the choice between Alvarez and Bukayo Saka, he confidently went with the Arsenal winger.

Alvarez is one of the most complete forwards in world football — a back-to-back World Cup winner, a Champions League winner, a player who has scored 49 goals during his two seasons for Atletico.

Saka, meanwhile, has been managing his Achilles throughout this tournament and has clearly not been at his sharpest.

And though they are completely different players, Vardy might have a point.

A fully fit Bukayo Saka is one of the best attackers in the world

Rival fans probably won’t agree with Vardy’s take, but football fans have short memories.

Saka has been comfortably the best attacking player for a side who over the past four seasons have garnered more Premier League points than any other.

His output has dropped over the last two campaigns, but that has arguably been a direct consequence of Arteta’s over-reliance on him at times.

However, his influence is still key, and though he may have lost a yard or two since his devastating hamstring injury at the back end of 2024, his intelligence and football IQ are still extraordinary.

Alvarez is obviously a different profile entirely, being more of an all-terrain forward than a traditional winger, so it’s not a great comparison.

Next season we may just see the two of them coexist at the Emirates, along with potentially Morgan Rogers.

That is serious firepower and would relieve a lot of the attacking burden on Saka.

Before that, though, the two will be on opposing sides in the World Cup semi-final.

Saka got the last laugh in the Champions League at the same stage, so Alvarez will be looking to bite back.

Arsenal will also be acutely aware that an Argentina win tonight might make signing Alvarez considerably more expensive, giving them another reason to hope England — and Saka — can do the business.