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Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez Can Be Wenger’s Redemption For Van Persie
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal had a time where even the most dedicated were pushed away but that time has passed. It’s time for Alexis Sanchez to make up for Robin Van Persie.
Arsenal has always been a club at or near the top. It’s just that these past ten or so years haven’t lead to too much of that ‘at the top’ fun. It’s all been near the top. Which is still an accomplishment, but not when you have the resources of this club.
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It was particularly bad in the debt years, when Arsene Wenger was forced to try to hang onto players on patience and belief alone. There was no monetary investment to give and even long-time Arsenal men like Robin van Persie felt the strain and got out of town.
It was tragic really. The Dutchman has been very open about his decision to leave. He said that he had had numerous talks with Wenger and they did not see eye to eye on what direction the club was going.
While the details aren’t known for sure, you can make a pretty safe assumption that it has something to do with van Persie wanting to see investment in the club and Wenger telling him that isn’t possible.
So RVP jumped ship and won the next Premier League title with Manchester United. Snake. Cretin. Brutus.
A similar situation is unfolding right before our eyes. Alexis Sanchez who, rest assured, really wants to stay with Arsenal, is frustrated by the lack of ambition that the club is showing. He wants to win for this club and for the badge that he wears, but he is worried that the team is merely treading water and not swimming.
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He wants to see changes and if he does, he is willing to stay.
Which sounds just like what Robin van Persie wanted. He wanted his abilities to be matched by those around him, which wasn’t possible with the crop that Wenger had to field.
Alexis undoubtedly wants to see Wenger go out and splash some serious cash in the summer to bring in some world class stars to surround the Chilean with. Anything to make him feel less likea babysitter and more like a member of a functioning machine.
Which means that the very thing that forced van Persie away can now be amended by forcing Alexis to stay. All that we have to see is a serious investment towards the team’s future. It doesn’t have to be a Manchester United-style spending spree, just sensible investments. Address the issues that the club has, not with potential and promises, but with proven gumption.
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This summer is going to offer up a ton of options in the transfer market, from striker to midfield and back again. Investing in this crop will not only bolster the team with the new arrivals, it will bolster the team with a renewed Alexis. And it doesn’t get much better than that.