Arsenal's Ambitious Plans: Barcola and Álvarez on the Radar

Leandro Trossard’s departure from Arsenal felt inevitable the moment the season ended. Important goals or not, Mikel Arteta has chosen to clear the decks. The Belgian is off to Besiktas, and with him goes one more piece of the attacking puzzle that dragged the club through tight moments last year.

The bigger question now hangs over Gabriel Martinelli.

The Brazilian, once seen as a cornerstone of Arsenal’s future, suddenly looks less essential. With the champions hunting fresh firepower and needing room both in the squad and on the wage bill, a sizeable offer for Martinelli could be the domino that unlocks their next evolution. Arsenal are not simply trimming; they are preparing to reload in one of the most decisive areas of the pitch ahead of the 2026-27 campaign.

And one name keeps circling back into view: Bradley Barcola.

Barcola on the radar

Barcola has already hurt Arsenal once. The France international played his part in Paris Saint-Germain’s back-to-back Champions League triumphs, a run that included dashing the Gunners’ European dream in 2025-26. On the biggest stage, alongside Kylian Mbappé and Michael Olise, he looked comfortable, dangerous, and at times devastating.

Yet he is not untouchable in Paris.

PSG’s forward line is stacked. Desire Doue, Ousmane Dembélé and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia all jostle for minutes, and Barcola, at 23, is still fighting to nail down a guaranteed starting role. His contract runs only until the summer of 2028. With the 2026 summer window open and Europe’s elite circling, that combination of age, pedigree and contract length makes him exactly the kind of player big clubs test with serious bids.

Arsenal, with their long history of French stars lighting up north London, are being urged to move.

Mikaël Silvestre, who once wore the Arsenal shirt himself, believes the fit is obvious. Speaking to GOAL, in association with talkSPORT Bet Online Slots, he made his stance clear: this is a move that works for both sides. Barcola’s rise with PSG and France, his age, and Arsenal’s ambition to retain their Premier League title and finally crack the Champions League all point in the same direction. In Silvestre’s words, it is a “green light…100%.”

The Gunners are not alone, though.

Premier League queue forms for French star

Barcola’s versatility and output have not gone unnoticed across the Premier League. Liverpool, staring down the long-term reality of life after Mohamed Salah, are scouring the market for a wide forward who can carry a similar attacking burden. Manchester United, preparing for their own return to Champions League football, need more goals and more threat from the flanks.

Former United striker Dwight Yorke has already nailed his colours to the mast. Asked by GOAL which PSG talents he would target from Old Trafford, he didn’t hesitate: Bradley Barcola or Desire Doue. Yorke highlighted exactly what top clubs crave – attackers who can operate on either flank and adapt to whatever the game demands. Left, right, high and wide or driving inside, Barcola and Doue fit that profile.

Yorke pushed the point further. If Marcus Rashford’s future remains uncertain, United, in his view, should not hesitate. Go and get one of them. Secure a reliable, productive wide forward and remove the doubt.

That is the competitive landscape Arsenal are stepping into. Wait too long, and another English rival may seize the opportunity.

Alvarez, Gyökeres and a changing frontline

Arsenal’s plans do not stop with the wings. Behind the scenes, the club are also weighing up a huge move for Argentina forward Julián Álvarez, now at Atlético Madrid after his Manchester City spell.

Álvarez walked out alongside Lionel Messi in the 2026 World Cup final, only to fall short of a second world title. His performances for Argentina, though, have left a lasting impression. Silvestre did not downplay it: below Messi, he sees Álvarez as the most impactful player in that national side.

At club level, life at Atlético is rarely straightforward for attacking players. The demands are high, the margins fine, and trophies hard to secure. Silvestre senses a fiercely loyal character in Álvarez and openly wonders whether the striker is even ready to move. That loyalty, he suggests, might be the only obstacle.

The numbers underline the scale of the potential deal. Álvarez could leave Madrid for around £120 million, a fee that would instantly place him among the most expensive signings in Arsenal’s history. The idea of pairing him with Swedish striker Viktor Gyökeres, already a focal point of Arteta’s attack, would give the champions a frontline with depth, variety and relentless movement.

Silvestre’s verdict on Álvarez is blunt: based on what he has shown this season, he would be a great signing.

So Arsenal stand at a familiar crossroads, but with a different kind of power. They are not chasing from behind; they are defending a title, building from a position of strength, and deciding who is good enough to stay on the journey.

Trossard has gone. Martinelli’s future hangs in the balance. Barcola and Álvarez are on the table. The next move will say everything about how ruthless, and how ambitious, this version of Arsenal truly is.