Arsenal have tabled an £86m bid to sign the new striker

When Kai Havertz scored just six minutes into the Champions League final to give Arsenal the lead, this season it looked like it was meant to be.

For an hour, the Gunners looked like European champions. Six days after the Premier League, another trophy was on its way.

Well, that was until Khvicha Kvaratskhelia worked his magic and drew a penalty, one which Ousmane Dembele slotted home.

It was a game that will always be remembered for the penalty, but not Dembele’s. With the final penalty kick on the clock, Gabriel fired into the crowd and Arsenal’s dreams were dashed.

Anyway, what a season this has been. Their wait for the Champions League title continues but for the first time in 22 years, they can call themselves champions of England.

That’s especially exciting as the Gunners head into the transfer window where they can once again tap into their top form.

Arsenal have made a bid to sign a new striker

Speaking after the final, Mikel Arteta was upset about the events in Budapest, but there was one quote that stood out.

Speaking to reporters, he said: “We are starting to make very important decisions if we want to reach the next level. And we will have to show that desire. We are more than capable of doing it, but it will require us to be very determined, ambitious, very fast and very smart.”

There is nothing hidden about this; Arteta wants more investment if they want to close the gap between themselves and PSG in Europe.

Arsenal have already overcome the challenge of Manchester City at home level but their only two defeats in continental competition in the past year have been against two winners.

So, how do you improve? Yes, a new striker can help.

Reports in recent weeks have revealed the club’s interest in Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez and it would appear that they are now stepping up their interest in signing the Argentine.

This is according to Argentinian journalist Veronica Brunati who reported this weekend that Arsenal have already sent their first bid, worth £86m and one player, to Atleti.

However, that will not be accepted. Amidst interest from Barcelona, ​​the club Alvarez is believed to have prioritized, Atleti have made it known that they are looking for any money to surpass the £104m they sold Antoine Griezmann for.

How do you compare Julian Alvarez to Kai Havertz

Arteta had a big call to make in Saturday’s final and that was to decide who started as a striker.

Viktor Gyokeres finished the campaign as Arsenal’s top scorer with 21 goals in all competitions but it was not the Swede who started. Instead, it was the man of the main event, Havertz.

The German was the lone scorer as Chelsea won their last game in 2021 and Arteta’s call was vindicated after just six minutes when Havertz raced past PSG’s back line and fired into the roof of the net to give Arsenal the lead.

That said, Havertz is not an aggressive center fielder. Gyokeres made him talk about scoring goals. When it comes to building a game, the former is better.

It makes these two valuable to the squad. Having two very different options allows Arsenal to put together different plans for their forward line.

However, if Arteta’s side are to reach that next level, an elite number 9 is needed. This is where Alvarez comes into the equation.

Once hailed as “the best center in the world” by South American journalist Roy Nemer, he may have been outdone by Harry Kane and Co since those comments but remains a “monster” in the words of Argentine journalist Pablo Gonzalez.

In 2024/25, his first campaign at Atleti, he scored 29 goals. This season, he posted 20. To put those numbers in context, they’re better than Havertz has ever achieved in a season.

His best for Arsenal was 15 which came last season and his career best came in 2018/19 with Leverkusen where he netted 20 in 42 games.

However, what really separates Alvarez from the strikers already at Arsenal is his overall game. Like Alexis Sanchez, this is a player who thrives as a false 9 player.

The 26-year-old loves to score goals but is also a fantastic creator. He registered ten assists in all competitions this season and collected 13 in his last campaign with Manchester City.

One of the reasons why Arteta has favored Havertz in bigger moments than Gyokeres this season is his combination play. The ball always sticks to him and his link-up play is excellent. However, Alvarez is even better at that.

The World Cup winner is among the top 9% of strikers in Europe’s top five leagues due to the threat expected in the formative stages of the game. Gyokeres ranked in the worst 20% and Havertz ranked in the 50%.

While Alvarez has been installed as an out-and-out striker in the Spanish capital, he is more comfortable in depth and could represent a nice upgrade to Arsenal’s current options.

After a season that won the league and finished second in the Champions League final, now is not the time to stop. Josh Kroenke and Co. must once again play a major role in building on the momentum they have built over the past few years.