Arsenal icon has already tried to butter up Julian Alvarez as huge deal 'falls through'

Arsenal icon Martin Keown has previously compared Manchester City striker Julian Alvarez to a Dennis Bergkamp as Mikel Arteta’s side hunt for a new forward. The Gunners are in the market for a striker and Alvarez has been linked with a move away from the Etihad Stadium.

RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko was previously among Arsenal’s top targets for this summer. However, Fabrizio Romano has reported that the 21-year-old intends to sign a new contract with an agreement over a future move, prompting Arteta and sporting director Edu to search for alternatives.

Alvarez has reportedly attracted plenty of interest from other clubs, including Chelsea, after an impressive season with Man City. Speaking in September, Arsenal invincible Keown likened the World Cup winner to one of the Gunners’ most iconic forwards.

"He reminds me of Bergkamp because he starts as a striker and just wanders into that position and you're wondering who will pick him up," Keown told Match of the Day. "They haven't missed De Bruyne, which is a massive credit to him.

"His intelligence of movement where he wanders into that spot, always looking for space, always in the pocket and they always find him. He's always on the half-turn, ready to go, looking for the big man up top. He stretches the back line.

"They're playing now at an incredible level, wonderful talents all over. He’ll drift out wide as De Bruyne does occasionally. He's got everything ahead of him, a wonderful talent.”

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With Arsenal now being forced to look elsewhere after Sesko's U-turn, the fact a club icon like Keown has already spoken so highly of Alvarez will do the Gunners no harm if they do decide to go for the Argentinian international.

Despite being unlikely to budge Erling Haaland from the Man City team, Alvarez still made 54 appearances last term and notched 32 goal contributions, scoring a brace against Fluminense in the Club World Cup final. It appears that clubs will face an uphill battle to prise Alvarez away from Man City, while Atletico Madrid recently ruled themselves out of the race.

Asked about the reports regarding his future Alvarez told ESPN this week: “These are things that are said, but I am calm; I am comfortable and happy at City; we will see what happens.” The 24-year-old’s contract is set to run until 2028.

While it would take a sizeable fee to sign Alvarez, Man City have shown that they are open to selling top players to other Premier League clubs. Arsenal have brought in Gabriel Jesus and Oleksandr Zinchenko, while Chelsea have snapped up Raheem Sterling and Cole Palmer in recent windows.

A new striker could help Arsenal find the final piece of the puzzle after running Man City close for the title once again, while Chelsea are in the market for a forward to compete with Nicolas Jackson.