A new Arsenal signing is currently undergoing his medical. The club will receive £12 million, with buy-back clauses included in the deal. The player is expected to arrive at London Colney today to complete his medical and officially sign as an Arsenal player. He’s set to sign a contract running until June 2029, earning a net salary of £3.5 million per season.

Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has recently identified Julián Álvarez as the perfect number nine for the North London club, as Arsenal continues its pursuit of a reliable, traditional striker to lead their frontline next season.

Although Sporting CP’s Viktor Gyökeres is reportedly the club’s top target, Henry believes a better, more suitable option exists — and he didn’t hesitate to name Álvarez as that player.

Speaking during his appearance on The Overlap’s Stick to Football podcast, the former Arsenal forward voiced his admiration for the Argentine international, while also criticizing the club’s recent transfer approach.

Henry pointed out that Arsenal have long lacked a consistent and clinical centre-forward, and expressed frustration over the club’s hesitation to address this problem last summer.

According to Henry, the need for a proper number nine has been obvious for quite some time. He remarked that while fans and analysts call for a striker when results are poor, those calls seem to fade when the team wins a few games. “Everyone’s been crying out for a nine — except when we win,” he joked, referencing the inconsistent narrative around Arsenal’s striker situation.

Henry emphasized that a quality striker is essential whether or not the team is in form and questioned the logic behind some of the club’s recent transfer decisions.

In advocating for Álvarez, currently on loan at Atlético Madrid from Manchester City, Henry explained why he believes the 24-year-old would be an ideal fit for Arsenal. Describing Álvarez as “one of my favourite nines,” Henry praised the forward’s versatility, work rate, and scoring ability.

He highlighted Álvarez’s performances in major tournaments like the Olympics and Copa América, noting his consistency and willingness to take responsibility without complaints of fatigue. Henry also referenced a recent standout free-kick from the striker, calling him a “complete” player who possesses the qualities Arsenal sorely need.

Álvarez has enjoyed an outstanding season in La Liga, scoring 29 goals in all competitions — the highest tally for Atlético and rivalled only by Villarreal’s Alexander Sørloth.

Reports suggest Arsenal are now making a serious push for the Argentine, though prying him away from Atlético — who only recently acquired him in a deal potentially worth €90 million — will be a significant challenge. Nonetheless, Henry’s endorsement has added further weight to the growing rumours surrounding Álvarez’s possible move to North London.