Arsenal’s £130m Alvarez flop backs Jamie Redknapp’s title call

Former England midfielder Jamie Redknapp has warned that Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes remain intact despite missing out on Argentine striker Julian Alvarez, the £130 million target they pursued right up until the summer transfer window closed on Tuesday in the final hours.

Arsenal’s pursuit of Alvarez reflected a desire to upgrade their attacking options, particularly on the left where Noni Madueke does not naturally fit. The Gunners also hoped the signing would replace the ambition they showed for Brazil icon Vinicius Junior, another deal that fell through.

Manager Mikel Arteta reportedly contacted Alvarez on multiple occasions, trying to persuade the Atletico Madrid star to join the Premier League champions. However, Alvarez kept his heart set on a move to Barcelona, and Atletico refused to sell to a direct La Liga rival, valuing him at €150 million (£130 million).

Other targets and new signings

Beyond Alvarez, Arsenal missed out on Vinicius Junior from Real Madrid, but they did bolster the squad with Bruno Guimaraes, Ezri Konsa and Christos Tzolis arriving in north London.

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In a Picture: interview, Redknapp said, “It seems to have. It would have been a great signing, he is an upgrade on the strikers they’ve already got. He’s an elite player. But it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.” He added that fans may have to wait until January for Alvarez and should be patient with the current squad.

Redknapp’s optimism and squad depth

Redknapp remains confident, noting that Guimaraes has already shown top‑class passing and that Tzolis looks a very good player on the left. He praised Bukayo Saka’s early season form and highlighted the defensive reinforcement needed with William Saliba out.

He concluded that Arsenal have enough quality to win the title again, despite a shortfall on the left‑hand side, and that the team’s strength will carry them through the campaign.

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Arsenal’s next test comes this weekend when Chelsea visit the Emirates Stadium, a fixture that will examine the champions’ credentials after an unbeaten start to the season.