Arsenal fans’ misery was compounded on Sunday as not only did the Gunners lose 2-1 to relegation-threatened Bournemouth, but Gunners boss Arsene Wenger admitted that wantaway winger Alexis Sanchez could depart the club within the next 48 hours.

“Alexis (Sanchez) would have played, but it’s a difficult period for him. He has always been committed until now, but he could have moved yesterday, today or not at all. It will be decided in the next 48 hours, it was a bit different for him because he was on standby a little bit, that’s why I decided not to do it. He did not refuse to play,” Wenger stated at his post-match press conference.

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The moment Wenger decided to leave the Chilean out of his matchday squad, rumour mills went into overdrive and it seems for once, there it has not been only smoke for a move to Manchester United seems imminent.

Wenger was asked whether he felt Sanchez could depart or perhaps complete a remkarble u-turn and stay, to which the French tactician responded: “I don’t master the rhythm of that, but it could happen today or tomorrow, or not at all, that’s why I didn’t take a decision. I didn’t want to travel with him and suddenly he goes somewhere”.

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Manchester City lodged a bid for the 29-year-old, who is out of contract in the summer, but United made a late move and have emerged as the leading candidates to sign Arsenal’s No.7 with little over a fortnight remaining in the winter transfer window.

Jose Mourinho’s men have bettered the wages offered by their derby rivals and have assured Sanchez that he will be a confirmed starter at Old Trafford, which has scuppered any hopes Pep Guardiola had of retuning with the man he signed at Barcelona.

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If Sanchez signs by Tuesday, he could make his Red Devils debut in time for Saturday’s visit to Burnley.

Arsenal’s miserable start to 2018 has shown no signs of letting up, for the Gunners have been suffered the ignominy of an FA Cup upset at the hands of Nottingham Forest before seeing their hopes of finishing in the top-four of the Premier League slip away with their loss at the Vitality Stadium. And the fact that Mesut Ozil could follow Sanchez out the door is not lost on the Gunners faithful, for whom there seems to be no light at the end of a long tunnel.