Mikel Arteta urged to sign Man City star to take Arsenal to ‘another level’

Mikel Arteta has been urged to sign Manchester City forward Julian Alvarez to take Arsenal to ‘the next level’.

The Gunners have been linked with a move for the Argentina international as Arteta looks to bolster his attacking options ahead of the new season.

Arsenal have challenged for the Premier League over the last two seasons and while they have been prolific in front of goal, several pundits have claimed they are crying out for a new striker.

Ex-Arsenal defender William Gallas believes Alvarez would be a ‘great signing’ for his former club and insists he would take the team to ‘the next level’.

In a series of recent interviews, Alvarez has suggested he could leave Manchester City this summer after playing back-up to superstar Erling Haaland at the Etihad Stadium.

‘Julian Alvarez would be a great signing for Arsenal,’ Gallas told Genting Casino.

‘He is a world champion, Copa America winner, won the Premier League twice in a row and won the Champions League. 

‘He has played most of City’s important games and is a starter for Argentina, he would bring so much winning experience to Arsenal and he looks like a player that wants to reach his very highest level by playing as many minutes as possible. 

‘Alvarez would take Arsenal to the next level, I don’t know if he could score 20 goals but he can play on the flank or behind the striker and be very influential.’ 

Alvarez is contracted to Manchester City until 2028 but says he will make a decision over his future after Argentina’s Olympics campaign.

‘There is a lot of talk,’ he said earlier this week. ‘I am focused here [at the Olympics] because it is a short tournament.

‘At Manchester City I feel very good, I played a lot of minutes. But we will see after the Games. First, if I can, I will take a few days off. Then we will decide.’

Alvarez has scored 36 goals in 103 appearances for Manchester City since joining them from boyhood club River Plate in 2022.

Arteta worked at Man City as Pep Guardiola’s assistant and has twice raided his former club since joining Arsenal, bringing Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko to the Emirates Stadium.