Gabriel Jesus set to leave Arsenal as club targets Julian Alvarez in summer overhaul

Key facts

• Gabriel Jesus has one year left on his contract and is expected to seek a move for regular playing time.
• Arsenal spent over £250 million last summer, including £64 million on Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP.
• Julian Alvarez, who left Manchester City for Atletico Madrid in 2024, is a target; any bid would exceed €100 million (£87 million).
• Arsenal lead Manchester City by six points with three league games remaining; City have five games left.
• Opta gives Arsenal a 79.7% chance of winning the Premier League title for the first time since 2004.
• Myles Lewis-Skelly, Gabriel Martinelli, Ben White, and Ethan Nwaneri are among those at risk of being sold to balance the squad.
• Viktor Gyokeres has scored 19 goals this season but has struggled with the physical demands of English football.

Arsenal’s title charge and looming squad decisions

Arsenal moved six points clear of Manchester City with a 3-0 victory over Fulham on Saturday, a result that tilted the Premier League title race decisively in their favour. With only three league matches remaining, Mikel Arteta’s side now hold a 79.7% probability of winning the championship, ending a 22-year wait for the trophy. Yet behind the on-field success, the club faces critical personnel decisions. indicate Arsenal may need to sell at least one first-team player this summer, with academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly, Gabriel Martinelli, Ben White, and Ethan Nwaneri all considered expendable. The need to balance the squad after last summer’s £250 million spending spree is driving the potential departures.

Gabriel Jesus’s expected departure and the search for a replacement

Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour believes Gabriel Jesus will ask to leave at the end of the season. The Brazilian striker, who has one year remaining on his contract, is reportedly eager for regular first-team football. “I think Jesus might leave at the end of the season, he is at that age where he wants to be playing week in, week out,” Parlour told Metro via BetMGM. Parlour argues that Arsenal should sign another striker regardless of Jesus’s fate. “We could lose him. We had four strikers when I played. That’s what I don’t understand. Bring in another one anyway. That can give the other options a lift because they see the standard being set.” The club’s primary target appears to be Julian Alvarez, the Argentina international who left Manchester City for Atletico Madrid in 2024. Andrea Berta, now Arsenal’s sporting director, oversaw that transfer and could facilitate a return to the Premier League. Any deal would require an offer exceeding €100 million (£87 million) to even tempt Atletico into negotiations.

Viktor Gyokeres’s mixed debut season

Arsenal believed they had solved their long-standing search for a prolific number nine when they signed Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP for £64 million last July. The Sweden international has scored 19 goals in all competitions this season, a respectable tally, but he has often struggled with the pace and physicality of English football. The club’s interest in Alvarez suggests that Arteta may be seeking a different profile of striker — one with Premier League experience and a proven ability to perform in high-pressure matches. Gyokeres’s adaptation challenges have left room for doubt about his long-term role, especially if a marquee signing like Alvarez arrives.

The title race: momentum, goal difference, and a favourable run-in

Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Fulham extended their goal difference advantage over Manchester City to four goals, a crucial margin if the title is decided on that tiebreaker. Arteta praised his team’s performance, saying they “showed the kind of team we are.” The victory came after a difficult fortnight that included defeats to Bournemouth and City, which knocked Arsenal off top spot for the first time in 209 days. Since then, the Gunners have beaten Newcastle and Fulham, either side of a Champions League semi-final first-leg draw at Atletico Madrid. The team has faced ridicule from rivals — including a fan drinking from a bottle labelled “Arsenal tears” and City striker Erling Haaland calling them “boring” on Snapchat — but has responded with resilient performances. With three league games left, Arsenal control their own destiny, while City, with five matches remaining, have no room for error.

The broader context: Arteta’s squad assembly and financial constraints

Mikel Arteta has assembled what many consider the strongest squad in Europe, but the depth has come at a cost. Last summer’s £250 million outlay included the £64 million for Gyokeres and significant fees for other additions. The club’s ability to comply with financial fair play regulations may necessitate sales, with several first-team players at risk. Parlour’s comments highlight a tension within the squad: while Arsenal have multiple options in attack, not all players are content with reduced minutes. Jesus, at 28, is at a career stage where regular football is paramount, and his potential departure could free up wages and a squad spot for a new signing. The club’s pursuit of Alvarez, a World Cup winner with Premier League pedigree, signals an ambition to upgrade rather than simply replace.

Outlook: a summer of change amid a potential title triumph

If Arsenal secure the Premier League title, the summer window will be framed as an opportunity to build on success. However, the need to sell players and the potential departure of a key figure like Jesus could disrupt continuity. The club’s recruitment strategy will be closely watched, particularly whether they can land Alvarez and how Gyokeres fits into Arteta’s long-term plans. The coming weeks will determine whether Arsenal’s season ends with silverware or heartbreak. Either way, the decisions made in the transfer market will shape the club’s trajectory for years to come. As Parlour put it, the standard must be set — and maintained — at the highest level.

The bottom line

• Gabriel Jesus is likely to leave Arsenal this summer, seeking regular first-team football with one year left on his contract.
• Arsenal are targeting Julian Alvarez, but any deal would cost over €100 million (£87 million), reflecting the club’s ambition to upgrade its attack.
• The club may need to sell at least one first-team player, with Myles Lewis-Skelly, Gabriel Martinelli, Ben White, and Ethan Nwaneri at risk.
• Arsenal hold a six-point lead over Manchester City with three league games left, and Opta gives them a 79.7% chance of winning the title.
• Viktor Gyokeres has scored 19 goals but struggled with the demands of English football, raising questions about his long-term role.
• Mikel Arteta’s squad depth, built through £250 million in spending, faces financial constraints that could force difficult decisions this summer.