Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez The Pin In The Transfer Window Grenade

Arsenal has one of two very different transfer windows approaching. Both hinge on what Alexis does. Pull him out of this grenade and watch the explosion.

Arsenal hasn’t had a player as important to their successes as Alexis Sanchez in a decade. He does more than even Robin van Persie did in the debt year and that’s saying something.

Therefore, the Chileans contract situation is one to keep tabs on, because depending on whether he stays or goes, Wenger’s summer will vary drastically. It’s like he is the pin in the grenade. Leave the pin in, and there isn’t much to worry about. A few odd signings here and there to bolster the squad, but nothing drastic.

Pull that pin, however, and the whole damn thing explodes and suddenly, Arsenal are looking at a busy and, knowing Arsene Wenger, stressful summer.

So long as Alexis stays, the needs of the club are minuscule. We already have a play-maker who can change the game and do everything himself, when need be.

Lose him and we lose that. We lose the luxury of having a player who can take over a game in every facet. We lose having the pinnacle of attacking reliability.

And how do we cope with it? Well, how do you put a grenade back together when it blows up? Pretty tough. Arsenal would need a prolific winger and a reliable striker. They would not be able to get by with just landing Antoine Griezmann (contrary to my former beliefs). They would not be able to get by with just a solid winger, like Ivan Perisic.

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They would have to have one of each because that is how important Alexis is. No single player can replicate what he means to this squad. Our winger crop would be reduced to Alex Iwobi, Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who should be a central midfielder.

That is terrifying and very drought-days-esque. It’s incredibly unreliable and would heap more pressure on Mesut Ozil to be the play-maker. That doesn’t fill me with too much confidence.

At striker we would survive, but only if Danny Welbeck is finally given some sort of trust and if Lucas stays around. I was never sold on Alexis’s use up front, but I have always been sold on his usefulness wherever Wenger decides to play him.

This is a dicey situation that is going to be giving Gooner’s nervous sweats all summer. There isn’t much belief in Wenger to load up on Perisic, Sergio Aguero and Marco Reus to cope with an Alexis exit. It would, probably be a one-person replacement.

Next: 5 Players Who Must Be Sold This Summer

And that just doesn’t work.

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