Prediction: Atletico Madrid aren’t bluffing and will now push Julian Alvarez towards Arsenal transfer

It’s understood that the 26-year-old has prioritised staying in Spain for family reasons, more than for anything football-related, and if that’s accurate then there’s no reason for him to reject the opportunity to play under a leading manager like Arteta at a winning project like Arsenal.

Alvarez moving to Arsenal might still feel unlikely at the time of writing, but given everything we know about the situation, it’s still the most likely outcome by the time the transfer deadline passes.