Arsenal's best and worst-case deadline day scenarios as Atletico Madrid make Julian Alvarez call
Julian Alvarez is still of interest to Arsenal(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Arsenal need to make up for lost time in the final hours of the transfer window. Despite ambitions to leap out of the gates and significantly bolster the squad, the Gunners had an underwhelmingly slow start to the summer.
Until August, Andrea Berta had only managed to activate the option in the loan agreement with Bayer Leverkusen to keep Piero Hincapie permanently, sign Illan Meslier from Leeds United on a free transfer, and prise Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge.
Arsenal later splashed the cash on Bruno Guimaraes, who was set to be the first of many big names to walk through the door at the Emirates Stadium. Instead, rather than finding an alternative to Vincius Jr, who decided to extend his contract at Real Madrid, the Gunners signed Ezri Konsa from Aston Villa.
Although Mikel Arteta needed reinforcements at the back, with William Saliba nursing an injury, a marquee forward wouldn't have gone amiss. Fortunately for the Spaniard, there's still time to bolster his frontline before the transfer window slams shut
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So, with that being said, football.london has looked at what the best and worst-case scenarios are for Arsenal on deadline day as Berta scrambles to make up for lost time.
In an ideal world, Arsenal prise Julian Alvarez from Atletico Madrid and sign Iliman Ndiaye, who's recently been linked with a move to Tottenham Hotspur, from Everton. The Gunners need to significantly bolster their frontline before the transfer window shuts, especially if they lose Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus.
Berta also needs to ensure that Fabio Vieira completes his permanent move to Hamburg and Kepa Arrizabalaga finds a new club. It's also imperative that the Arsenal sporting director finds a hospitable loan at a Premier League club for Ethan Nwaneri.
Julian Alvarez could yet join Arsenal before deadline day(Image: Sheng Cheng/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
To be sold: Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Fabio Vieira.
To be signed: Julian Alvarez and Iliman Ndiaye.
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It would be a disaster if Arsenal failed to sign a marquee forward, like Alvarez. After winning the Premier League, Berta held all the cards ahead of the transfer window, and, for the first time in a while, the Gunners were the English club of choice for the very best players in the world seeking a new challenge.
But one ship sailed after another, and suddenly Arsenal find themselves scrambling to bolster their frontline in the final hours of the transfer window. In June, the Gunners had the chance to leap out of the gates and lay down a marker.
Mikel Arteta during an Arsenal training session at the Sobha Realty Training Centre(Image: Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
As the new Premier League winners and a Champions League finalist, Arsenal had every right to throw their weight around. But instead, Berta coasted through the summer, leaving his primary objective until the eleventh hour.
If Arsenal were to suddenly lose Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri, as well as miss out on the Atletico Madrid striker, it would be a tragedy. The Hale End graduates should be the heart and soul of Arteta's side for years to come, so Berta shouldn't cash in at any price.
To be sold: Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Kepa Arrizabalaga, and Fabio Vieira.
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