Watch: Alexis Sanchez’s farewell post evokes mixed reactions from Arsenal fans

Alexis Sanchez on Monday committed the unforgivable act of transferring to arch-rivals Manchester United and while he uploaded a post bidding farewell to Arsenal fans, not everyone from the Gunners faithful was impressed.

Quiero agradecer al Staff Técnico, al equipo médico, a todos los compañeros con los que compartí muchas cosas lindas para el club y en especial a todas esas personas que no se ven en las portadas, pero que sin ellos nada seria posible, que son los que te preparan la comida y te cuidan día día, los que nos mantienen los zapatos limpios y campos de fútbol en las mejores condiciones para entrenar. Mil gracias a Ustedes por ayudarnos a mejorar cada día. Gracias por tanto cariño 😢. Hay personas (ex jugadores del club) que han hablado sin conocimiento de lo que ocurre en la interna y causan daño. Debo decir que siempre me entregué al 100%, hasta el último día, en que le pedí al Mister estar con el equipo, por que quería ser un aporte. Recuerdo hoy, una conversación que tuve con Henry, un histórico de Arsenal, que cambió de club, por la misma razón que hoy me toca a mi. Gracias por todo Gunners ! I want to say thanks to the Technical Staff, to the medical team and all teammates with whom I shared many nice things for the club and especially those people who do not see themselves on the covers, but without them nothing would be possible, which are there to prepare food for us and take care of us day by day, those who keep our shoes clean and the grass in the best conditions. Many thanks to you for helping us to improve every day. Thank you very much 😢. There are people (former club players) who have spoken with no knowledge of what happens inside the club and cause damage. I must say I always gave 100%, until the last day, when I asked to the Mister to be in the team, because I wanted to be a contribution. I remember today, a conversation I had with Henry, a historic Arsenal player, who changed club for the same reason and today is my turn. Thanks for everything Gunners! All we achieved and the good moments that I gave to the club, I want to dedicate it to the fans, they are the most important. Thanks for every time you sing Alexis Sanchez Baby

A post shared by Alexis Sanchez (@alexis_officia1) on Jan 22, 2018 at 10:08am PST

It’s interesting to note that the Chilean has taken a swipe at the many ex-Arsenal players, who are now pundits, over fabricating stories of a dressing-room divide over his contract situation.

Sanchez had declined to sign a contract extension at the end of the last season as he made his intent to leave the Emirates clear but Arsene Wenger, somewhat divisively, refused to sell the winger in the summer transfer window.

Must read: Why Arsenal fans should cheer, not jeer Alexis Sanchez’s transfer to Manchester United

Manchester City and Chelsea were, among others, in the race to sign the wantaway star, but were eventually priced out of a deal as the North Londoners were demanding a figure said to be in the region of £50 million for a player who was on the verge of turning 29 and was in the final year of his contract.

Last-minute deals broke down and the Chilean stayed put in North London beyond the transfer deadline, but as soon as the January window opened, reports of Manchester City and Manchester United renewing their interest surfaced.

Involved in a straight swap deal with out-of-favour midfielder Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Sanchez finally put pen to paper a deal with the Red Devils on Monday which will reportedly see him become the highest earner in the Premier League.

While Sanchez has not quite been vilified to the extent Robin van Persie was when the Dutchman crossed the great divide in 2012, the fact that he chose Manchester United over Manchester City has not gone down well with Arsenal fans.

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Considering the Sky Blues are a lock to win the Premier League title this season and employ one of the most vaunted managers in the world, Pep Guardiola, a move to the Etihad seemed imminent when they made an opening bid less than a fortnight ago.

However, United swooped in late and have said to offered the Chilean, who turns 30 this year, wages that would dwarf his current ones.

And the fact that they were offering Mkhitaryan as a part of the deal made sense to Arsenal as well, it must be noted.

Since arriving from Barcelona in 2014, the hardworking Sanchez had become something of a cult figure at the Emirates with performances that put him at the very top of the Premier League’s talents, but he had reportedly become jaded with the club’s lack of ambition, especially in the transfer market, as they struggled to compete for the league title.

Probably till a year ago, a vast majority of Arsenal fans would have bought Sanchez’s jersey, but there will be many who would rather burn it now. Whether their wounds will ever heal, only time will tell.