Luiz Henrique has openly put Arsenal on notice after his role in Brazil’s goal during the March friendly with France. The Brazil forward, introduced as a substitute, spoke directly about a potential move to the Premier League leaders and highlighted what he admires about the club.

“I really like Arsenal,” Henrique gushed to Flashscore , “the way they play, aggressive. They play a lot on the left and right, so I’m keen to play for Arsenal.

“I’ve already spoken to Gabriel Magalhães and Gabriel Martinelli, they say the team is excellent, they really like Arteta, they say he’s always listening to the players. God willing, I’d like to have the opportunity to work with him.”

Henrique is a left-footer capable of playing anywhere across the frontline, although he prefers cutting onto his strong side from the right flank. That versatility could be significant for Arsenal. The club already has two of the Premier League’s best left-footed right wingers competing for the same role, yet Henrique could offer an alternative if he were deployed as a left winger.

There are signs Arsenal might seek a fresh outlet on the left. One analyst quoted in The Athletic described the threat: “You don’t mind them attacking down their left.” The only danger was conceding a corner which Declan Rice would take.

Within Arsenal’s current options, Leandro Trossard has five Premier League goals and as many assists this season. Gabriel Martinelli, by contrast, has struggled for domestic consistency; he has scored just one top-flight goal all term and registered fewer direct goal contributions than Arsenal’s right back, Jurriën Timber. Martinelli’s route into the first team was unconventional, having been signed from Brazil’s third tier, a reminder that Arsenal have previously recruited from outside the usual markets.

Henrique plies his trade in the Russian Premier League, a competition Opta ranks 23rd in the world, roughly comparable to the second tiers of Spain (20th) and Germany (25th). Even so, it is not as though Henrique is exactly tearing apart this inferior opposition.

England manager Thomas Tuchel acknowledged that Arsenal’s wave of international withdrawals can appear problematic, but he focused his concern on how Mikel Arteta has managed Declan Rice. Tuchel defended the honesty of Rice and Bukayo Saka while shifting responsibility to the club and its head coach. “They arrived injured,” he said. “We knew after the [Carabao Cup] final that there are issues.”

The former Chelsea boss added that it was for Arsenal and Arteta to “decide for themselves how much risk they’re taking” by selecting players in compromised conditions. “I’m not willing to take this risk for my key player,” Tuchel pointedly added.

Tuchel recounted Rice’s long-running discomfort and how the midfielder had continued to play through pain. “He feels a discomfort since quite a while,” Tuchel said of Rice, “and he’s playing through it, and he’s just now on the edge, where he thinks, ‘Does this make sense, what I’m doing here, to push through with 70% and push myself and push myself?’ And the same with Bukayo.”

Arteta defended Rice’s contribution after the December episode when the midfielder missed Arsenal’s 4–1 win over Aston Villa with a swollen knee. Four days later Rice started against Bournemouth and scored twice in a 3–2 victory. “Declan Rice was struggling the last few days,” Arteta admitted, “but pushed and pushed and pushed and made himself available. He played 96 minutes, scored two goals and was one of the best players on the pitch. That is the mentality we need from all of us.”

Tuchel said the number of Arsenal withdrawals had reached double digits and accepted that “it looks a bit suspicious.” “Everyone can do the math and it’s a lot of players, of course, and during the situation, it looks a bit suspicious,” he conceded, while stressing he could only speak for his squad. “They both came,” Tuchel outlined. “Declan was even out on the pitch. He did not come and say, ‘Guys, I’m going home.’ I heard there were [international] camps where players did not even show up with boots and stuff. Then it becomes, ‘O.K.’

On medical checks and trust he added: “I understand the look of it,” Tuchel added. “I still have 100% trust in the honesty of Bukayo and Declan. We did medical tests. I saw them. I have no reason to believe that Declan is not honest with me. I have no reason to believe Bukayo is not honest. But given the amount of [withdrawn] Arsenal players, I understand the look.”

Tuchel also reflected on Madueke’s collision at Wembley: “Actually he got lucky that it’s not worse,” the 52-year-old reflected. “He is out for some days and maybe some weeks but it could have been much worse. It was a proper collision.”

Atlético Madrid are preparing a contract proposal that would elevate Julián Álvarez to the club’s highest-paid player as a response to reported interest from Arsenal and Barcelona.

According to MARCA, Atlético are inclined to convert a current uncertainty into certainty by offering Álvarez a net salary of $11.5 million per year, up from his present $8.1 million. That net figure is understood to translate to a gross sum in the region of $21.4 million annually, which would match the club’s top earner, Jan Oblak.

Talks have not formally begun, though Álvarez is believed to be aware of Atlético’s thinking. The Argentine finds himself in a position of power ahead of a potentially decisive summer transfer window. “Maybe yes, maybe no, you never know,” he helpfully added.

Arsenal and Barcelona have both been linked, but their financial circumstances differ markedly in the report. Arsenal, backed by Premier League resources, recently made Bukayo Saka the club’s highest earner with a wage equivalent to $20.7 million a year. The Gunners are reportedly obliged to sell this summer to remain compliant with Premier League financial rules after multiple years of heavy outlays and limited offsetting income. Since the 2021–22 campaign, only one club in world soccer has recorded a larger net spend than Arsenal.

Barcelona’s position has been more constrained. The club have been described as so cash-strapped they removed free breakfasts for academy players in recent years. President Joan Laporta inherited significant financial problems stemming from mismanagement and the COVID-19 pandemic, but Barcelona have used palancas to channel available funds back into the playing squad. As Johan Cruyff once said: “The money should be on the pitch. Not in the bank.”

That approach has funded Robert Lewandowski’s sizable salary, reportedly around $27.6 million. Lewandowski is out of contract this summer and is set to move on, creating a potential squad and accounting vacancy that the reports suggest Álvarez could fill if Barcelona pursue him.

The immediate outcome remains uncertain, but Atlético’s reported plan is clear: use a substantial pay rise to retain Álvarez and deter rival suitors.