A London Boy Helps Arteta’s Dream Man Break His Duck to Rub Salt Into the Basque’s Wounds
By Alessandro Schiavone at MHP Arena, Munich
Champions League Matchday 3
VFB Stuttgart 1-1 Atletico de Madrid
Goals: Leweling 36' (S), Alvarez 47' (AM)
Mikel Arteta would have killed for Argentina superstar Julian Alvarez to lead Arsenal’s attack during the 2026/27 season.
And it’s not difficult to see why, as the 2022 World Cup winner netted a stunner with his left foot on the turn from London-born Ademola Lookman’s pass to earn Los Colchoneros a hard-fought 1-1 draw at VfB Stuttgart in the Champions League.
After a difficult summer on every level, Alvarez had gone 174 days without scoring for Atleti.
And Gunners fans remember his last goal all too well, as it came at their expense in the 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Champions League semi-final six months ago.
Since then the unfolding of events have not been too good to him.
Alvarez has lost a World Cup final, seen his dream of joining Messi’s former club Barcelona shattered, had to wave a poingnant farewell to La Pulce with the Albiceleste and in late August was mercilessly hounded off the pitch by Atletico’s fans, who would have none of the idea that he was pushing through a move to their second most bitter rivals.
The player reportedly skipped three consecutive training sessions and submitted a medical certificate citing depression.
With Atleti reluctant to sell to Barcelona, the club La Araña was desperate to join, Arteta tried to enter the race by calling the former Man City star day and night in a bid to sell him his project at the Emirates Stadium.
But it was always Barca or bust for the 26-year-old, who opted to stay in Spain rather than seal a switch back to the Premier League having struggled to acclimatize to life in England during his time in Manchester.
Despite his struggles, on and off the pitch, the cream always rises to the top, and Alvarez showed once again why the English and Spanish champions were willing to break the bank for him.
Whether yesterday’s goal, which cancelled out Jamie Leweling’s stunning opener, will soothe the pain of Atleti fans remains to be seen.
But it will certainly add to the Basque tactician’s regrets, with Gyokeres (0) and Havertz(3) having found the net just three times between them since the start of the season.
Alvarez is up and running again, and the ball is now in the Gunners duo’s court to respond in Munich against Tottenham one-timer Harry Kane tonight.
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