The Alexis Sanchez saga is, after much deliberation and consternation, set to finally come to an end by the weekend, according to both Arsene Wenger and Jose Mourinho.
Two of the bitterest rivals, in agreement for once. There is a certain irony to that but Arsenal fans are up in arms over the immense sale of their star player to an arch-rival.
Arsene Wenger had famously (or is it infamously now?) stated in the aftermath of Robin van Persie’s acrimonious move to the Red Devils in 2012 that Arsenal will never sell to Manchester United again but here we are in 2018 and it’s an eerily similar situation once more.
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A proven match-winner, unhappy with the club’s lack of ambitions and inability to compete for silverware, with a few world-class seasons left in him, wants to move and Old Trafford seems the likely destination.
In an ideal world, Sanchez would have signed a contract extension and stayed put at the Emirates, where he would have ended his career a club legend but the time to view professional football through rose-tinted glasses is long gone.
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So while it’s not the best situation for Arsenal, here’s why the Gunners faithful should be happy at the departure of the wantaway Chilean, even if he goes into the arms of the much-reviled Jose Mourinho.
Gunners get rid of a divisive player akin to deadweight
Often, Alexis Sanchez would be carrying Arsenal on his back throughout seasons, forget matches.
This campaign, however, has seen a reversal of sorts.
His petulance was apparent towards the latter stages of the 2016-17 season, when reports of him stalling on signing a contract extension came to light.
Coincidence?
Unfortunately not, for despite attempting to break their wage structure in order to keep the South American in North London, Arsenal have kept a player who’s clearly unhappy for another half-season and his performances have been dire, at least by his lofty standards.
Sanchez didn’t sign an extension (surprise, surprise!), Wenger had his way and kept the Chilean out of Manchester City’s clutches beyond the summer transfer window deadline but things have been far from rosy since then.
Rumours of a dressing-room rift have been out for too long to be completely untrue, his team-mates have even refused to celebrate goals with him at times. And that’s when he has scored, for his stats aren’t exactly pretty(eight goals in all competitions).
Like a spoilt kid playing truant often, Sanchez’s defiance has obviously not set an ideal example as the likes of Jack Wilshere and Mesut Ozil are also running down their contracts.
So with everything that’s been mentioned, is it truly worth keeping Sanchez for another few months and then letting him go for free in the summer or just getting ‘something’ in exchange for now at least?
Gunners get a hurting Henrikh Mkhitaryan in exchange
Henrikh Mkhitaryan is a quality player but as fate would have it, the soft-spoken Armenian has fallen out of favour with Jose Mourinho.
And we all know what happens when a player doesn’t see eye-to-eye with the Special One.
So with United desperate to offload the former Borussia Dortmund man in order to secure a move for Sanchez, one can’t imagine what must be going on in Mkhitaryan’s mind.
His reputation is effectively in tatters after an underwhelming season-and-a-half at Old Trafford with many doubting his ability to compete in the tough environs Premier League.
The jury’s still out on him of course, but nothing’s more dangerous than a wounded animal and Mkhitaryan falls in that category, which bodes well for the Gunners.
There’s plenty of time left in the 2017-18 season for him to fire a riposte back at his doubters and there’s no denying that Arsenal’s aesthetically-pleasing style will suit him more than the effective but dour one Jose Mourinho employs at Manchester United.
With Alexandre Lacazette in front of him, Mesut Ozil and perhaps Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang alongside, the ‘Armenian Magician’ could thrive in North London and revitalise a club that have long been anything but elite.
Arsenal can finally move on from Alexis Sanchez
The spectre of Sanchez’s transfer has been hanging over the club for over a year now.
Will he go? Will he stay?
Questions like the above have been thrown at Arsene Wenger for almost every press-conference since January 2017.
That’s one whole year of being asked quizzed on the same issue.
The strain on the French tactician must be immense, as on the club board and of course the fans’ nerves must have been frayed to an unforeseen extent.
However, with the aforementioned acquisition of Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (discussions are underway according to a multitude of reports to bring the Gabonese to the Emirates), Arsenal could transform into a powerhouse again.
Of course, issues at the back and in midfield remain, but Arsenal can’t overhaul their entire squad in one go and acquiring two quality players who are eager to prove themselves, for differing seasons, in place of a player who is quite obviously jaded is a good deal all round.
Usually, a move for Aubameyang would have been met with snorts of derision all round, as Arsenal aren’t exactly known for their tendencies to splurge but after a series of clashes with the club management, the African striker is apparently available at a bargain price.
Of course, there’s plenty a slip between the lip and the cup.
Arsenal could, against all odds, hang on to Sanchez and their moves for Mkhitaryan and Aubameyang would collapse and we would say this is mere speculation, so now’s the time to hope for the best and keep pressing that refresh button on your browser!