Mikel Arteta could be in line to work with another scholar of Pep Guardiola’s at Arsenal.
It’s been reported that Arsenal hope to make contact with Julian Alvarez over the possibility of a summer transfer.
It was only last summer that the Gunners’ sporting director, Andrea Berta, signed the Argentine at Atletico Madrid in a £81m deal from Manchester City.
The 25-year-old is one of a dozen names on Arsenal’s attacking transfer list, and he could go straight to the top of the pile if Arteta seeks Guardiola’s opinion on the forward.
What Pep Guardiola said about Julian Alvarez
As a number nine with Premier League experience and the status of a World Cup winner, Alvarez is the perfect fit for Arsenal on paper.
The Argentine won’t be easy to capture given that Diego Simeone has publicly called for Alvarez to stay at Atletico, but that doesn’t mean that the Gunners won’t test the water.
Aside from his heroics on the pitch, there’s another reason why Arsenal will be eager to look at the forward, and that’s because of Guardiola’s opinion of his former player.
Arteta is very close with Guardiola, and history will tell you that the Arsenal manager values his compatriot’s view of players, given the Gunners’ transfer activity with ex-Man City stars.
In an interview with Argentine outlet Infobae, Alvarez shared what Guardiola messaged him when he left Man City, revealing what the Spaniard thinks of the striker he sold in 2024.
The message that Guardiola sent to Alvarez read the following:
“Thank you so much for everything you gave us in two years. There were so many titles. You never caused any problems, you didn’t cause any problems at the club. Nothing. You always gave your all.”
Guardiola waxed lyrical about Alvarez’s gentle temperament and hard work, something that might just alert Arteta to the possibility of signing him in the summer.
Guardiola proves why Alvarez would be Mikel Arteta’s perfect signing
If there’s a type of player that Arteta wants at Arsenal, it’s one who is prepared to leave any risk of disruption at home.
Arsenal were concerned about Matheus Cunha’s discipline, leading the Gunners to shy away from interest, but it’s not only talent outside of the club that Arteta has had a say in.
In 2020, Arteta banished Matteo Guendouzi from the Arsenal squad for failing to control himself when taunted by Neal Maupay.
The Frenchman wasn’t the only one, as Arteta axed Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang after deeming him unsuitable to wear the armband.
The boss isn’t afraid to make bold calls and, equally, has shown during his Emirates tenure that he’s not a fan of having standout names in the squad, instead viewing his team as a collective.
Alvarez is a player who fits the bill regarding what Arteta wants, not only for his temperament away from the action, but on the pitch too.
Being a clinical number nine who is already accustomed to the demands of the Premier League, Alvarez ticks many boxes, but can Berta lure the striker away from his former club?
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
