Neville Demands Alvarez: Arsenal Need Him to Win Champions League

The Gunners strolled to a comfortable win. Kai Havertz, Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard all bagged goals. A statement, sure, for defending Premier League champs. But Gary Neville, the Sky Sports oracle, isn't impressed. Says they're still a striker short. Nowhere near serious European contenders, he reckons.

That missing edge? Julian Alvarez. He's at Atletico Madrid, for now. Arsenal, Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain are all sniffing around, Sky Sports tells us. But good luck prying him away. Atletico chief Miguel Angel Gil already dug in his heels this summer. Said he wouldn't sell Alvarez. Not even for a ridiculous £170m.

Neville, bless his optimistic heart, wants Arsenal to go test Atletico's 'resolve'. The transfer window's closing fast. Now's the time, he insists. 'If he puts another forward into that, if they could get Julian Alvarez somehow,' Neville declared, 'that would light this place up.' Not just Premier League champs, he believes. 'They'd go the next step and win a Champions League.'

Alvarez. He's the key, Neville argues, to unlocking Odegaard. The Argentine's movement would let the midfielder play with some bite. Not just those endless possession loops. Proper incision. That's the dream.

Mikel Arteta, of course, had his own take post-match. Talked about player development. Not just splashing cash. Jamie Carragher, another pundit with a microphone, agreed. Said the psychological lift from defending their title? Far more valuable than some expensive new face.