Alan Shearer Backs Arsenal to Land Julian Alvarez and Strengthen Premier League Title Bid
Alan Shearer believes Arsenal have a prime chance to secure Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez before the transfer window closes. With tension rising over Alvarez's potential move to Barcelona, Shearer thinks the Gunners could swoop in and claim a player who might push them toward another Premier League crown.
Chance to Intervene
Alvarez appears unsettled at Atletico, expressing interest in joining Barcelona, but his current club is hesitant to sell directly to their Spanish rivals. This hesitation opens a door for Arsenal to step in. Reports from Metro indicate that Alvarez may be warming to the idea of moving to north London despite initially preferring Camp Nou. Arsenal’s search for attacking options continues after the mixed results of £64m signing Viktor Gyokeres’ debut season.
Shearer Sees a Title-Winning Signing
On The Rest is Football podcast, Shearer highlighted Arsenal’s position to take advantage of the standoff between Atletico and Barcelona.
“We’ve heard of a lot of pushing from Barcelona and the reluctance from Atletico. It seems like their thinking might be, if we have to sell, we’re not selling to you [Barca]. There’s just maybe a small opportunity or a small window there for Arsenal to nab him you would think. And if they do it’s done by the way [the Premier League title race].”
Hostile Atmosphere at Atletico
The situation turned sour recently when Alvarez was jeered by Atletico fans during their draw with Villarreal. Supporters are unhappy with his desire to join Barca, sparking unrest around the player. Since his £82m switch from Manchester City, Alvarez has scored 49 goals in 107 matches over two seasons in Madrid. His progress had been limited at City due to Erling Haaland’s dominance upfront despite winning back-to-back league titles.
Former England defender Micah Richards also urged Arsenal to test Atletico’s willingness to sell, saying:
“I would actually go for a striker if I was Arsenal and we’ve all seen the situation with Alvarez at Atletico. He was booed by his own fans the other night and there are reports he wants to go to Barcelona. But are Atletico going to sell him to Barca? It might be one for Arsenal to just sneak in there and offer a bid. He’s clearly not happy. If Arsenal had Alvarez he would take them to the next level.”
Arsenal Ready to Capitalize
With Alvarez unsettled, an official offer from Arsenal could solve problems for everyone involved. Arsenal lifted the Premier League trophy last season for the first time since 2004 and reached the Champions League final. Adding a proven scorer like Alvarez would intensify fear among their domestic rivals.
Mikel Arteta’s squad started their title defense strongly with a 3-0 win over newly promoted Coventry City. Bringing Alvarez in before the deadline would give the campaign a significant boost.
- LaLiga Fixture: Sevilla vs Atletico Madrid, 29 Aug 2026, 21:30
- Premier League Fixture: Aston Villa vs Arsenal, 31 Aug 2026, 21:00
