Reports from several outlets confirm that Atletico Madrid have refused to allow Argentine striker Julian Alvarez to leave in January, effectively ending the Gunners’ hopes of securing his signature this season. At the same time, the club have reportedly submitted a bid for Club Tijuana’s teenage attacking midfielder Gilberto Mora, aiming to get ahead of rivals in the upcoming winter market. The developments arrive as Mikel Arteta prepares his side for a Carabao Cup fourth‑round tie against League Two side Fleetwood Town at Highbury Stadium later tonight.

Atletico Madrid block Alvarez move

All three sources – the Daily Star, Football.London and Mirror Football – agree that Atletico Madrid have made it clear Alvarez will not be permitted to depart during the current campaign. The Spanish club’s stance “shatters Arsenal’s ambitions of landing the Argentinian striker this season,” according to the Daily Star, while Football.London adds that the club “confirmed they will not permit Julian Alvarez to depart in January.” Mirror Football repeats the same message, noting that the decision “ends Arsenal’s hopes of signing the Argentinian striker this season.”

The background to the stalled transfer is that Arsenal had been in contact with Alvarez’s representatives, hoping the forward would be receptive to a move to England in the January window. TEAMtalk, cited by each outlet, reported that the Gunners were positioned as leading candidates for his signature. However, recent statements from the striker himself suggest a change of heart. Following his match‑winning goal for Atletico versus RC Deportivo, Alvarez told Movistar Plus: “I’d like to apologise to our fans for what I said at the World Cup; it was a mistake in terms of how I said it and the timing.” I understand why the fans are angry. I would feel just as angry if I were among the supporters. His public apology appears to have coincided with Atletico’s firm refusal to negotiate a January exit.

Gilberto Mora emerges as January priority

The same reports that detail the Alvarez setback also reveal that Arsenal have already tabled an offer for Gilberto Mora ahead of the January window. Former Mexico defender Claudio Suarez, speaking to Unanimo, corroborated the claim, confirming that “both Arsenal and Bayern Munich presented him with a great project.” He added that Arsenal’s plan appears to involve signing Mora and then loaning him out, acknowledging that the youngster “might not have been a starter for them right away.”

Immediate focus: Carabao Cup clash with Fleetwood

While the transfer narrative dominates headlines, Arteta’s immediate priority remains the Carabao Cup tie against Fleetwood Town later this evening. The Gunners are aiming for “another week without defeat across all competitions,” as the Daily Star notes, and view the cup match as the first step in that plan. Despite the 66‑place league gap between the clubs, Arteta has warned that he will not underestimate the challenge of facing the League Two side on their home ground.

Arteta’s comments after the 2‑0 victory over Everton on Saturday underline his willingness to rotate the squad. Football.

Looking ahead

In summary, Arsenal’s transfer ambitions have hit a roadblock with Julian Alvarez, as Atletico Madrid refuse any January departure. The club’s response has been swift, with a formal bid for Gilberto Mora now on the table, signalling a shift in focus toward a younger, long‑term prospect. Meanwhile, Arteta’s short‑term agenda centres on preserving the unbeaten streak through a Carabao Cup victory over Fleetwood, before tackling Liverpool in what promises to be a pivotal Premier League showdown.

Photo: Ronnie Macdonald from Chelmsford, United Kingdom via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0, resized.