Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez Leaving A Mere Consequence

Alexis Sanchez cut a frustrated figure in the closing stages of Arsenal’s loss to Bayern Munich on Wednesday. Would you blame him for forcing a summer exit?

That was predictably awful. Arsenal travelled to Germany to face Bayern Munich with the faint opportunity of qualifying for the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time since 2010. To put that into context, it was a Nicklas Bendtner hat-trick that sealed the Gunners’ progress all those years ago.

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Beginning the second-half at 1-1 there was reason for Arsene Wenger and his side to hope. Despite Bayern dominating possession, as they were expected to do, they came up against a resolute, resilient and well-organised Arsenal defence that was only breached thanks to a mental mistake from Francis Coquelin and an exquisite Arjen Robben finish.

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However, in 10 devastating second half minutes, Munich scored three goals and all but ended the tie. There was a growing frustration among the Arsenal fans and players and one man in particularly was visibly agitated and angry with his teammates’ efforts.

Alexis Sanchez, after the fifth and final Bayern goal, could be seen crouched down, off to the left-hand side of the field, head down, looking deflated and feeling dejected and the crumbling mess that he had witnessed during the second 45 minutes. In the aftermath of such a demolition, the question now turns to the Chilean’s future and the answers are not particularly rosy for the North London club.

With a little over a year remaining on his current deal, there were significant rumours circling suggesting that Sanchez would leave in the summer. Yesterday’s abject display only went on to enforce those rumours. After the game, BBC Radio 5 Live pundit Pat Nevin claimed that he would be ‘astounded’ if Sanchez stays, stating:

"“Will Sanchez stay? To be fair I would be completely astounded, with his body language and the way they are doing at the moment.”"

It would certainly be difficult to blame Sanchez if wanted to leave the Emirates. He plays with an intensity and an effort that no one else in the squad can match. His desperate will to win is overpowering, spilling out into his behaviour, on and off the pitch.

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However, he is seemingly alone in his desire to fight and to scrap and to work for victory. If he does indeed leave in the summer, as I expect him to do, then it would simply be a mere consequence of Arsenal failing to match his own ambition, and that is a very worrying truth indeed.