Julian Alvarez will force Declan Rice to stop doing one thing if he signs for Arsenal now
Julian Alvarez is still Arsenal’s dream target this summer.
Mikel Arteta and Andrea Berta knew after the Champions League final defeat to PSG that they needed a game-changer in attack, but they still haven’t made a big signing in that area of the pitch.
Arsenal are best placed to sign Alvarez now, after Atletico Madrid made it clear in a statement that they will not sell their star attacker to Barcelona.
If that happens, one of Declan Rice’s roles at the club may change.
Declan Rice may have to leave free kicks alone if Julian Alvarez joins Arsenal
Rice was never really an incredible free-kick taker, but one night in the Champions League changed everything.
When Arsenal faced Real Madrid at the Emirates Stadium in the 2024/25 season, the game was locked at 0-0 in the second half.
Rice stepped up to take a free-kick and scored a stunner past Thibaut Courtois. Then, a few moments later, the midfielder did it again in an even more brilliant fashion.
Since then, when Arsenal get a free-kick around the box, Rice usually steps up, but he may have to give up that responsibility to Julian Alvarez if he joins the Gunners.
That’s because the Argentine is an incredible free-kick taker.
Just last season, Alvarez scored three direct free-kicks, two of which came against Real Madrid and Barcelona in Spain.
In the last three seasons, the World Cup winner has scored seven free-kicks, which is over three times as many as Rice has managed in his entire career.
Arsenal’s Champions League hopes rest on the Julian Alvarez transfer
Arsenal are the favourites to win the Premier League title this season, and they already have the squad needed to do just that.
Arteta proved that last season, but the aim in this campaign will be to do more.
Arsenal will want to end their drought in Europe, and many in the game, including Paul Merson, think winning the Champions League is dependent on signing Alvarez.
We agree with that assessment because the Gunners need a player in their attack who will win a difficult European game on his own with a moment of brilliance.
Alvarez has done that already – his free-kick in the Champions League to knock out Barcelona showed just that.
That is exactly what Arsenal need.
