Arsenal's Transfer Pursuits: Álvarez and Havertz Impact
Arsenal’s 3-0 dismantling of Coventry might have lit up the opening night, but the real noise around the Emirates is coming from the corridors, not the pitch. Mikel Arteta has a team that looks ready to compete again – and a board still intent on reshaping it.
Ornstein: Arsenal still hunting a frontline upgrade
Even after that “thumping victory”, David Ornstein insists Arsenal are not done in attack. Speaking on TNT Sport, he underlined the club’s ambition – and the complication.
“Arsenal would like to improve their frontline further. That is why they are so keen on a move back to England & that could be the stumbling block,” he said, discussing their pursuit of Atlético Madrid’s Julián Álvarez and the broader striker picture.
“I think if push came to shove, Atletico Madrid would do a deal with Arsenal – as opposed to Barcelona, the doors are closed there.”
The message is clear: Arsenal sense an opening with Atleti. Barcelona, Álvarez’s dream, is the real problem.
Kenan Yildiz: doors closed in Turin – for now
Arsenal have also been circling Juventus forward Kenan Yildiz as they look to refresh the left side of their attack. Ornstein, again on TNT Sport, cooled the temperature on that front.
“They [Arsenal] like Kenyan Yildiz, but the doors are closed from Juventus.”
For now, at least. Arsenal’s interest is genuine, but Juve are standing firm.
That stance jars with other reporting. The Independent has Yildiz back at the top of Arsenal’s attacking shortlist after their pursuit of Vinícius Júnior died with his new Real Madrid contract. The 21-year-old hit 11 goals in all competitions last season and can operate across the frontline. Juventus are said to want around €70m.
Arsenal, weighing that fee and the need for a left-sided star, are deciding if he’s worth being the marquee attacking spend.
One potential twist? Reports suggest Arsenal could offer Gabriel Martinelli as part of a swap to bring Yildiz to London. The Guardian says the Turkey international is admired by Arteta and the hierarchy, and a Martinelli-to-Turin move could solve two problems at once.
Álvarez tug-of-war: Simeone stands firm, Barca still calling
Diego Simeone has kept his cards close to his chest throughout the Álvarez saga, but he did underline one thing before Atlético’s latest outing.
“Julián Alvarez will be in the squad tomorrow,” he said. “For me, Julián is an extremely important player for us to achieve our objectives. As long as he’s with the team, I’m going to look after him.”
Atlético are resisting, but the dynamics are complicated. The Spanish club are understood to prefer a sale to the Premier League rather than strengthening LaLiga rivals, which nudges Arsenal to the front of the queue from their point of view.
The problem sits with the player. Álvarez remains determined to join Barcelona. Reports in Spain claim Arteta has been in contact with him for some time, but the answer has not changed: he wants Barça.
Atleti have, though, opened the door to selling him to clubs other than Barcelona, a move that could give Arsenal a route into the deal if the Catalans can’t make the numbers work. Arsenal are “still applying pressure” and “desperate to secure his signature”, as the original reporting put it.
There is another subplot. Atlético are battling Aston Villa to sign Nicolas Jackson from Chelsea on loan, with director of football Mateu Alemany travelling to London to thrash out terms. If Atleti land Jackson, the pressure to cash in on Álvarez grows – and if Barcelona are forced to look elsewhere, Arsenal’s path sharpens.
The question is whether Álvarez will ever open the door to a Premier League return when his heart is set on Camp Nou.
Havertz changes the conversation up front
While Arsenal chase Álvarez, Kai Havertz is quietly making the debate more awkward.
The German, who spent much of last season injured, has returned in sharp, decisive form. He scored in the Champions League final against PSG, then followed that with another goal against Coventry. That comes on top of his famous Champions League final winner for Chelsea in 2021 and his Community Shield strike against Manchester City.
These are not empty goals. They are big-stage contributions that justify the £70m fee Arsenal paid and strengthen his case to be Arteta’s first-choice No 9 again.
Having shared duties with Viktor Gyokeres last season, Havertz now looks ready to lead the line outright. With Gyokeres coming off a strong World Cup and still in reserve – he did not feature against Coventry but remains a powerful option – Arteta suddenly has internal solutions even as he scans the market.
Gary Neville believes the missing piece remains a world-class, in-behind striker like Álvarez.
“We think that Alvarez wants to go to Barcelona, but if Arsenal get Alvarez it would light this place up,” Neville said on Sky Sports after the Coventry win. “As well as having world-class defenders and midfielders, they would then have a world-class striker and they could not only win the Premier League again, but go that extra step and win the Champions League as well.”
Neville later added that such a signing would take Martin Odegaard “up a level”, arguing that Havertz and Gyokeres like to come to the ball rather than run in behind. For now, though, Havertz is doing everything he can to make that hypothetical signing feel less urgent.
Martinelli on the outside – and legends uneasy
The flip side of Arsenal’s attacking refresh is Gabriel Martinelli’s situation, and it is turning increasingly sour.
The Brazilian, 24, is attracting serious interest from Inter Milan, Roma, Atlético Madrid and Juventus. Arsenal are believed to want around €60m to sanction his exit after a poor season. He has already turned down an approach from Galatasaray this summer.
More telling than the rumours was his absence. Martinelli was left out of the matchday squad entirely for the 3-0 win over Coventry, the opening game of the season.
Arsenal legend Ian Wright did not hide his discomfort on Sky Sports.
“In respect of Martinelli and the way Martinelli is being treated at the moment, it really makes me feel uncomfortable,” he said. “The way he’s been treated at the end here. I know they might want him out and people might say, ‘yeah, it’s time to move him on’.
“There’s ways to do that. It should suit him as well, how he wants to leave. Not being involved in the squad, not being spoken to, doesn’t know what’s going on. I know this, I know this.”
On the same broadcast, Jamie Carragher described new signing Christos Tzolis as “an upgrade on (Leandro) Trossard and (Gabriel) Martinelli”. Neville countered: “I actually really like Martinelli.” Wright, again, came back to the human side.
“Tzolis had a very good debut and respect to Martinelli, what’s happened with him makes me feel uncomfortable and the way he’s been treated at the end of it… not being spoken to, not knowing what’s going on, not being involved tonight and he’s got a year left (on his contract).
“If you bring Tzolis in and he’s looking at Tzolis, you’re thinking to yourself ‘I still have something to offer.’ I feel a bit sad for him. He’s done a lot in this squad to be treated more. I hope it all works out right for Martinelli.”
If Arsenal do push ahead with a Yildiz swap, those words will hang in the air.
Tzolis and Tyjon: youth and upside on the flanks
Arsenal’s decision to replace Leandro Trossard with Christos Tzolis already looks inspired.
Signed from Club Brugge for £34m, the 24-year-old has wasted no time. He delivered two assists in the Community Shield win over Manchester City and impressed again against Coventry. Sky Sports’ co-commentator called the Player of the Match award a “toss up” between captain Martin Odegaard and Tzolis, eventually plumping for the Norwegian.
Trossard, 31, had become a key figure for Arteta, scoring crucial goals – including the winner at West Ham last season that put Arsenal on the brink of the title. Yet swapping him for a 24-year-old who already looks like a dangerous, direct outlet on the left is the kind of calculated risk top clubs now take.
Behind the first team, Arsenal are also closing in on one of England’s brightest young forwards. The Athletic reports that 18-year-old Blackburn Rovers striker Igor Tyjon has completed his medical after the clubs reached an agreement.
Tyjon has featured for Blackburn’s Under-21s and England’s Under-17s, and even made his first-team debut in the EFL Cup last season. Rovers will receive £1.2m up front, £2m in add-ons and hold a 20% sell-on clause. That comes after they were reportedly offered close to £5m last summer.
It is a deal for the future, but Arsenal have chased him for several windows. They clearly think they have something.
Konsa arrives, White in the spotlight
At the other end of the pitch, Arsenal have moved decisively.
Ezri Konsa has completed his transfer from Aston Villa in a deal worth around £51m, with a further £4m potentially due in add-ons. With William Saliba injured and the defence stretched last season, Arteta now has another proven Premier League centre-back who can also operate at right-back.
Arsenal sporting director Andrea Betra did not hold back in his praise.
“We’re delighted to have completed the signing of Ezri Konsa,” he said. “Ezri is a defender of high quality, whose athleticism, composure and tactical intelligence have established him as one of the Premier League’s most consistent performers.
“Being comfortable in both central defence and at right-back, Ezri will bring valuable versatility to our squad while maintaining the high defensive standards which are fundamental to our challenge of winning major trophies.
“We are welcoming a player with proven Premier League and international experience, and strong leadership qualities, who will adapt seamlessly to our style of play.
“Just as importantly, we are welcoming a player with the character and mentality to make an immediate impact within our club. We welcome Ezri and his family to Arsenal.”
Konsa’s arrival gives Arsenal cover for Jurrien Timber at full-back and strengthens the core next to Gabriel. It also puts Ben White’s future under the microscope.
Everton admire the 28-year-old and are rumoured to be interested. White registered his first assist of the season against Coventry, but Arteta has found it hard to rely on him consistently, and a sale could open up funds before the deadline.
Arteta acknowledged the balancing act in his pre-match press conference.
“We are trying to improve the team, but it depends on some players leaving and the amount of money available to us after that. So far, I am very happy.”
White is not the only one whose name has been in the exit column. A CBS Sports report back in May suggested as many as eight players – White, Gabriel Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri, Martinelli, Trossard, Havertz, Odegaard and Cristhian Mosquera – could be allowed to leave this summer.
That list already looks badly out of date. Havertz and Odegaard both started, scored and shone against Coventry, with Odegaard matching his entire league goal tally from last season in one night and taking Player of the Match. Mosquera, signed from Valencia last summer, impressed alongside Gabriel in Saliba’s absence. Trossard has indeed gone, joining Besiktas, while the futures of White, Jesus, Martinelli and Nwaneri remain open.
Nwaneri, after a loan spell at Marseille, could seek another move for regular minutes. Jesus continues to attract interest from Serie A. Martinelli’s situation is well documented. The market will decide the rest.
Zubimendi and midfield hierarchy – Arteta draws a line
One name Arsenal are not entertaining offers for is Martin Zubimendi.
After a promising first season in England, the Spaniard has slipped down the pecking order with the arrival of Bruno Guimaraes, the emergence of Ethan Nwaneri and the return of Declan Rice. Chelsea are said to be monitoring the situation and Real Madrid have also been linked after missing out on Rodri.
Arteta, speaking to Sky Sports, shut that down.
Asked if Zubimendi could leave, he replied: “No, he’s a really important player.
“Without a doubt, he was one of the best players for Arsenal last season. Without him, we would never have got into the position that we got into in the last few weeks.”
The message is unmistakable: competition in midfield is fierce, but Zubimendi is part of the core.
Bruno and Konsa: prime-age statement signings
Arsenal’s two biggest senior arrivals this summer, Bruno Guimaraes and Konsa, are both 28. For a club that has built its resurgence on youth, that is a deliberate shift.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Arteta explained the logic.
“Because we look at the squad as a whole, we have a young defensive line. In midfield, we already have the next generation with Ethan and Max.
“At 28 they are in their prime and I think they are going to give amazing things to our squad.”
Bruno arrives as a proven leader, having captained Newcastle to their first trophy in 56 years by winning the EFL Cup. Konsa was a key figure for England at the World Cup and for Aston Villa in their Europa League triumph last season, ending a 30-year wait for European silverware.
Both bring battle-hardened Premier League experience to a dressing room that has already gone close in the title race. Arteta clearly believes that blend of youth and prime-age leadership can push Arsenal over the line.
Odegaard thriving – and could still go higher
If there was any doubt about Martin Odegaard’s status at Arsenal, Coventry dispelled it. The captain scored in the 3-0 win and, in doing so, matched his goal tally from the whole of last season.
Neville believes a striker like Álvarez could turbocharge him further.
“If Arsenal had an Ian Wright up front, Odegaard would be even better because (Kai) Havertz and (Viktor) Gyokeres want to come to the play rather than run in behind. If Arsenal were to get an Alvarez, I think he (Odegaard) would go up a level.”
Odegaard, speaking to Sky Sports, paid tribute to the depth around him.
“I think the quality in the squad and team is unbelievable, you can put so many players in the squad and we would be at an unbelievably high level. We push each other to be better in training to be better.”
If Arsenal do land a different profile of striker, the Norwegian could yet find another gear.
Partey moves on
Away from the Emirates, a former mainstay has taken a new path. Thomas Partey, who left Arsenal for Villarreal last summer after his contract expired, has joined Al Shabab in Saudi Arabia.
Partey made 167 appearances for Arsenal after signing from Atlético Madrid in 2020 and became a central figure under Arteta. Al Shabab now inherit a midfielder with deep Premier League, European and international experience.
A squad on the brink – but which way does it tip?
Arsenal’s summer has been bold and busy. They have added prime-age leaders in Bruno and Konsa, a livewire winger in Tzolis and a high-upside striker in Tyjon. They are chasing Álvarez and Yildiz, while Havertz threatens to solve the striker question from within.
At the same time, they are juggling delicate situations: Martinelli’s exile, White’s future, Jesus’s suitors, Nwaneri’s development. The door remains bolted on Zubimendi. The Álvarez door is half-open, but only if Barcelona step aside – and if the player finally looks north to London.
Arsenal are close. Everyone can see it. The next few weeks will decide whether this window simply keeps them in the pack, or gives them the firepower to turn another near-miss into something far more ruthless.
