Arsenal: Granit Xhaka’s Alexis Sanchez reverberate massively

Granit Xhaka has stated that he fears Alexis Sanchez leaving Arsenal this summer. His fears are valid ones and reverberate through the fan base.

The future of Alexis Sanchez is an issue that is hanging over Arsenal like a brooding cloud. The club is crippled by its inability to act without clear knowledge and foresight of the future because of Sanchez’s uncertainty, such is the importance and the influence of the player.

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His 24 goals and 10 assists in the Premier League, bettered by only Harry Kane in terms of direct involvement in a goal in the country, will be extremely difficult to replace if he does indeed leave. But if he were to stay, he has the talent and the impact to build the side around him.

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And the uncertainty that is beginning to plague the club and its transfer dealings is clearly seeping into the mindset of the squad. In an interview with Bild, where he discussed a wide range of different topics from how his first season in North London went to Alexis’ future, Granit Xhaka revealed that he feared the possible departure of the Chilean:

"“I hope [he doesn’t leave], of course. He has qualities on the pitch which are incomprehensible. He has made many goals, and is also enormously important outside the box. Alexis could play with every world-class team – just like Mesut Ozil. I have been able to play with many great players, but these two stick out.”"

Such fears are reverberating through the fan base. Given the trajectory of the narrative – a growing frustration with life at the Emirates, bust-ups at the training ground, strops on the sidelines, rejection and delaying of contract talks – it is increasingly likely that Sanchez will leave Arsenal this summer, especially given their lack of Champions League football next season after slipping to fifth in the table.

Moreover, there is growing talk surrounding Manchester City’s and Bayern Munich’s interest in the player, with Pep Guardiola especially keen to join up with a former star who he managed during a prosperous period at Barcelona. Sanchez is the calibre of player to better suit either of those two clubs over that of the Gunners, however depressing that may be to admit, and would flourish in the attacking set-up of both teams.

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It is very difficult to see how Arsenal can convince Sanchez to stay. They aren’t challenging for the titles, they are regressing in respect to their domestic competition, and they aren’t even in the Champions League. Why would he want to stay? It looks like Xhaka’s fears could well come true.