Gary Neville urges Arsenal to move for Julian Alvarez

Gary Neville believes Arsenal should make a bold attempt to sign Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, arguing that Mikel Arteta's side would add a decisive edge to an already formidable squad.

Strong start, but call for more in attack

Arsenal opened the defence of their Premier League title with a commanding 3-0 win over Coventry at the Emirates Stadium. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka and Martin Odegaard were all on the scoresheet as Arsenal followed up their Community Shield victory over Manchester City with another impressive display.

Despite that strong start, Neville's view is that Arsenal still need something extra in the final third. The Sky Sports pundit said the squad Arteta has assembled is packed with top-level quality, but argued that another forward could elevate the team even further.

Why Neville sees Alvarez as the missing piece

Neville pointed to Alvarez as the ideal addition, describing the Atletico Madrid forward as the kind of player who could bring added spark to Arsenal's frontline. In his assessment, Arsenal already have elite options in defence and midfield, and the arrival of a striker of Alvarez's calibre would complete the picture.

His argument goes beyond domestic competition. Neville's belief is that signing Alvarez would not only strengthen Arsenal's chances of retaining the Premier League title, but also give them the quality required to take the next step in Europe and become Champions League winners.

Central to that view is the idea that the best sides need attackers capable of deciding difficult matches, particularly when the overall team performance is below its usual standard. Neville sees Alvarez as exactly that type of match-winner.

Atletico's stance could make any deal difficult

Any move would clearly be complicated. Arsenal are said to be among the clubs interested in the Argentina international, with Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain also credited with interest.

Atletico Madrid, however, have made their position clear. Earlier in the summer, chief executive Miguel Angel Gil said the club did not want to sell Alvarez and would not even accept £170m for the forward.

That has not stopped Neville from urging Arsenal to explore the possibility. With the transfer window entering a crucial period, he believes this is the kind of ambitious move that could transform an excellent team into one capable of conquering Europe.

Ambition at the top end

Arsenal's early-season form has already underlined the strength of Arteta's group. The performance against Coventry reinforced the sense of momentum around the club, and Neville's comments reflect the level at which Arsenal are now being judged.

For him, this is no longer simply about building a competitive side. It is about identifying the final addition that could turn a title-winning team into one with the firepower to dominate on the biggest stage.