​Julian Alvarez arrived at the World Cup as one of the most coveted talents in the game, with both Barcelona and Real Madrid reportedly placing significant bids for his signature, only for those offers to be rejected. That turn of events was seen as a positive development for Arsenal because Atletico Madrid seemed reluctant to sell a forward to one of their domestic rivals. As a result, the Gunners held out hope of launching their own pursuit once the World Cup had run its course.
Alvarez has established himself in recent seasons as one of Europe’s top attacking players and was widely expected to spearhead Argentina’s attack throughout the tournament. Yet Lionel Scaloni chose to deploy Lautaro Martinez from the outset in the competition so far, leaving Alvarez with only a handful of minutes as a second-half substitute. His scant involvement has prevented him from making a meaningful impact, and Atlético may now be reconsidering their decision to reject some lucrative offers when interest in the striker was at its peak.
The striker has endured a challenging World Cup campaign, with performances that have done little to bolster his standing on the international stage. According to Football Insider, Arsenal could begin to rethink its plans to sign Alvarez in light of his underwhelming displays during the tournament. The World Cup was expected to be the ideal stage for the former Manchester City man to demonstrate his quality and reinforce his reputation as one of Europe’s premier attacking talents. However, that has not occurred so far, as limited playing time has curbed his ability to influence matches and showcase the form that once made him such a highly sought-after target.
As the tournament progresses, Alvarez will hope for more opportunities to impress and remind clubs that initially expressed interest what attracted them to him in the first place. Whether Arsenal keeps pursuing him could hinge on how the remainder of his World Cup campaign unfolds and how strongly he finishes the tournament.