How Berta could seal Arsenal’s biggest coup since the days of Ozil & Alexis

Like many of their Premier League rivals, Arsenal have had something of a frustrating summer transfer window.

Mikel Arteta’s side have still pulled off some first-class signings. Christos Tzolis passed his first audition with flying colours in a creative display in the Community Shield, and Bruno Guimaraes is a world-class centre-midfielder. Ezri Konsa should soon arrive from Aston Villa.

But the Gunners still lack something in attack. We’re not asking for prime Alexis Sanchez, but Arteta needs more across the frontline. Okay, perhaps we are. Arsenal are Premier League champions, and why not aim for world-class forwards who can consolidate their position at the summit?

Nostalgia is a potent drug in football, but there’s no question that Sanchez has stood the test of time and will continue to do so as Arsenal go from strength to strength.

How Arsenal’s forwards compare to Alexis Sanchez

In truth, it’s difficult to argue that any of Arteta’s forward lieutenants have peaked to the level that Sanchez did when in his Arsenal heyday. When serving as Arsene Wenger’s talisman, former Barcelona teammate Xavi hailed him as “one of the best attacking players in the world“.

Arsenal reaped rich rewards with the Chilean in their mix, and though he lacks the Premier League gold medal that Arteta’s squad boast, there’s no question that Sanchez, now 37 and playing in the MLS, would dovetail right into the mix.

The versatile forward’s tireless, intense running and devastating ball-striking ability made him one of the most feared names in England. He was a leader and a maverick, the kind of difference-maker that Arsenal need now as they prepare to defend their Premier League title.

Arsenal pulled off quite the trick with that one, signing him from Barcelona for £35m in 2014. He rejected Liverpool in the process.

Sanchez isn’t the only superstar from Spanish football who has been brought over to the Emirates and grown into a sensation. Playmaking genius Mesut Ozil shaped a generation of Gooners when arriving from Real Madrid for £42.4m in 2013, breaking Arsenal’s transfer record.

Now, technical director Andrea Berta is ready to repeat that old trick.

Arsenal in ongoing talks for their biggest coup since Ozil & Alexis

Ozil and Alexis were rare profiles, but both were found among Spanish giants, then brought over to the Emirates to take leading roles at Arsenal.

Now, Berta and co are indeed hoping to complete a marquee move for Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez, having maintained talks all summer with the La Liga side.

As per TEAMtalk, Arsenal are looking to close a £100m+ deal for the Argentine before the window slams shut, though he is prioritising a possible transfer to Barcelona, and until that one falls through, the Gunners will not advance.

However, Atletico are more than willing to do business with the Londoners, eager to explore the possibility of Viktor Gyokeres or Gabriel Jesus being included in the deal.

Principally, Alvarez is a striker. He has been smoothed into an out-and-out centre-forward under Diego Simeone’s wing at Atletico, albeit retaining much of the flair and multi-functionality that once attracted Pep Guardiola’s attention.

But he is a lethal finisher. While Alvarez only scored eight times in La Liga last season, he started just 22 matches – and he has still scored 25 goals across his two league terms in Spain combined, missing 15 big chances in a fine illustration of his clinical ability.

In all competitions since joining Atletico from Man City in a mega-money move, he has posted 49 goals and 17 assists across 106 games, hailed by pundit Karen Carney as “the most complete centre-forward in football“.

Such a dynamic, talismanic attacking profile could prove the perfect new piece to sit at the front of Arteta’s attack. Given his profile, the circumstances and the fact that he would arrive from Spain, there’s every reason to suggest that Alvarez could be Arsenal’s biggest coup since the likes of Ozil and Alexis.

Ozil might have been a creator, not a goalscorer, but he too was targeted and signed when Arsenal needed a focal point, and the fact that the Argentina international’s signature would come at a record-breaking price marks a further similarity there.

Whether Arsenal get this one done remains to be seen. Barcelona’s vested interest will persist until the saga is done and dusted, one way or another.