There was a time when Arsenal had to persuade top players to join the club.
The Gunners were not competing for major honours, Champions League football was gone, and Mikel Arteta was still trying to convince people to buy into his vision.
Fast forward to today, and the situation could not be more different. Arsenal are Premier League champions and among the biggest clubs in Europe once again.
That is why reports suggesting Julian Alvarez has no interest in moving to London may not go down particularly well with Arteta.
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Mikel Arteta may not want to sign Julian Alvarez for Arsenal anymore
From a football perspective, Julian Alvarez is exactly the sort of player Arsenal should be looking at.
The Atletico Madrid star is versatile, relentless out of possession and has already proven he can deliver at the highest level for both club and country.
It is easy to understand why supporters get excited whenever his name is linked with a move to north London. However, this potential transfer is about more than just ability.
Arteta has spent years building a culture at Arsenal. Every player who walks through the door is expected to buy into the project completely.
The Spaniard wants footballers who are desperate to wear the shirt, not players who see Arsenal as one option among several.
That is why the recent reports regarding Alvarez’s stance are so interesting. If it is true that the Atletico Madrid star has no desire to move to London, Arteta may view that as a red flag.
Back in 2020, the Arsenal boss made his feelings on the subject crystal clear.
Speaking to Ian Wright, Arteta said on Adidas UK’s social channels: “The moment we mention Arsenal, Ian, you know what it means around the world.
“Everybody wants to come here, and we have a really clear idea of what we are. It doesn’t need much convincing, and if they do, for me, it’s not a good starting point. If I have to convince a player to stay or to join us. To Arsenal? It holds me back a little bit.
“It has to be ‘what do we have to do? I want to play for that club and represent exactly the values the style of play that I want’. That’s the kind of emotion I want to hear at the start.”
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Arsenal should move on if Julian Alvarez doesn’t want to join
Arsenal have worked too hard to be chasing players who are not fully sold on the project.
The club have become one of the most attractive destinations in world football, and there are plenty of elite attackers who would jump at the opportunity to play under Arteta.
Alvarez is a fantastic player, but no footballer is bigger than the badge. If he genuinely does not see Arsenal as the right move, there is little point in wasting weeks trying to change his mind.
Andrea Berta has plenty of alternatives on his shortlist, from Morgan Rogers to Rafael Leao and several others who would strengthen the squad.
Sometimes the best transfers are the ones you walk away from. If Alvarez is not excited by the idea of joining Arsenal, the Gunners should thank him for his honesty and focus their attention elsewhere.
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