Unlike the 2022/23 campaign, when they could perhaps have been accused of bottling the league with defeats to West Ham and Fulham, last season they went all the way and only fell short by the skin of their teeth. This shows how far they have come in replacing Liverpool as the Citizens’ real title rivals.
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There remains one critical area Arteta will be looking to improve, and that will be the attacking area of his squad. Bukayo Saka was Arsenal’s top scorer again last season with 16 goals, followed by Kai Havertz with 13. To win the league, they will need a lethal finisher who knows the Premier League, and an ideal option could be Manchester City’s Julian Alvarez, rather than the closely linked Victor Osimhen from Napoli.
Osimhen is a good striker, as proven by his monster goal-scoring feat that helped Napoli to the league title a couple of seasons ago, but Julian Alvarez will fit the style of play at Arsenal more. The Gunners’ pursuit of Osimhen is also complicated by the interest of London rivals Chelsea, who could secure the forward initially on loan, with Romelu Lukaku heading to Napoli on a permanent basis as part of the deal. PSG are also key contenders to prise the Serie A side’s talismanic forward from their grasp this summer.
Alvarez, a World Cup winner in 2022, boasts the tactical flexibility would be invaluable for Arsenal, providing Arteta with multiple options. Whether as a central figure in a 4-2-3-1 formation or a wide player in a 4-3-3, Alvarez’s adaptability ensures that he can slot into various systems seamlessly. He scores goals too and has an incredibly underrated technical ability that could be useful during set pieces.
The Argentinian, who is currently featuring for his nation at the Olympics, said when asked about his future at Manchester City: "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."
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Here’s your chance, Mikel. He wants to leave, and you have a chance to get a striker who is Premier League-proven and at the age of 24 is entering his absolute prime. He’s had those years at Manchester City where he’s won it all and now is ready to lead the line as the main man.
He’s also not just a goal scorer; he’s an outstanding hardworking forward described by many as a pressing machine. He would be an upgrade on Gabriel Jesus, the man whose spot he took at Manchester City, and has the excitement of still being within that age where he can be taught to improve his game.
The Arsenal team is crying out for a striker who is a good goalscorer, can play in multiple roles, has big game temperament, and has Premier League experience, so when he arrives, he hits the ground running. There is no one who is fit for the role and available like Alvarez. He’s the man to get Arsenal the title.
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