Paul Merson has expressed bewilderment that Mikel Arteta did not push harder to sign Julian Alvarez from Manchester City two years ago, as the Atletico Madrid striker now emerges as one of Arsenal's top transfer targets this summer.
The 26-year-old has developed into one of Europe's most devastating strikers since leaving City for Atletico in the summer of 2024 for a staggering £81.5 million. The Argentine has netted 49 goals and provided 17 assists in two seasons across all competitions, attracting interest from Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona, and Arsenal.
Alvarez was already a known quantity during his City days, having played under Pep Guardiola from 2022 to 2024. In that time, he scored 36 goals for the Etihad side, securing two Premier League titles and the Treble.
Now, amid suggestions that Arsenal are fighting to land his signature for north of £100 million this summer, Gunners legend Merson is baffled as to why Arteta didn't push harder to sign the World Cup winner when it became clear he wanted to leave City, just as he did with Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko in 2022.
Merson, speaking exclusively to Mirror Football on behalf of Historic Newspapers, said: "I'd go and get him tomorrow morning. I'll go and pick him up and bring him home. He's up there with the best of the best. He's an unbelievable player. That would be a signing and a half."
"But my worry is Arteta didn't bring him in when he left Manchester City, I found that strange. If they get him in, they'll win it again next season. It's between Arsenal and Liverpool next season. I don't think anyone else stops Arsenal."
Alvarez's three displays against the north Londoners in the Champions League this term certainly set tongues wagging over him being the right man to lead the line, with £64 million summer recruit Viktor Gyokeres providing mixed results.
However, despite Merson's concerns, there were several valid reasons why Alvarez ended up at Atletico. As a fellow Argentine, Diego Simeone had an instant rapport with the player, helping convince him to move to the Spanish capital.
More importantly, Alvarez left City to escape Erling Haaland's shadow. There was no guarantee that he would start ahead of Kai Havertz, whom Arsenal had spent heavily on the previous summer. There was also the issue of City not wanting to strengthen a direct rival, as Jesus and Zinchenko's sales had done previously, making the transfer difficult to pull off.
Merson also gave his glowing endorsement of two more Gunners targets: Sandro Tonali of Newcastle and Bournemouth's Eli Junior Kroupi. He said of Tonali: "I'll go and get him from Newcastle too if they want. I'll pick him up too. Definitely."
On Kroupi, the 1989 title winner said: "He's a very good prospect so I'd sign him. He's not going to get in the team at the moment but I'm a big fan of his."
Tonali was linked with an Emirates move in January and could push to leave Newcastle, given their expected lack of European football next season. Kroupi, meanwhile, scored the goal against City last week which handed Arsenal the title for the first time in 22 years.
