Arsenal: Alexandre Lacazette could change Alexis Sanchez narrative

Alexandre Lacazette has completed his medical with Arsenal ahead of a move to North London. His arrival could be the change that is needed with Alexis Sanchez and his downward spiralling narrative.

Alexis Sanchez’s narrative has been such that an exit has grown increasingly likely as time has passed. There have been several different reasons for the growing expectation that he will leave in the coming weeks and months, from contract disputes to unhappiness and disappointment with life at the Emirates, but what has, at least from a distance, been clear, is that Arsenal should be planning for life without their starring Chilean.

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The murmurs of a departure began to surface before last summer. With talks regarding a new contract beginning to stall — Sanchez himself stated that they would restart after the Copa America, a tournament that he inspired his Chile side to victory, winning Best Player in the process — it was clear that a degree of unrest was beginning to build.

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That unrest only grew throughout last season, becoming a more and more prominent issue that was discussed and highlighted. Talks were again delayed, this time til the end of the season, once the future of Arsene Wenger had been settled, anger and frustration began to bubble over, at his teammates and the general struggles and difficulties of the team, and there was a sense that Sanchez was of a calibre above what Arsenal could command and attract, a sense that was vindicated when they failed to haul themselves back into the Champions League for the first time in Wenger’s tenure.

Perhaps the driving reason for the drifting apart of club and player, though, was the disparity in their ambition. Sanchez is desperate to win. He is relentless in his pursuit of success, willing to do whatever is necessary to win titles and trophies. Arsenal have been unable to match that same, incessant drive.

Or at least that was the case. As news began to broke regarding a club-record transfer for Alexandre Lacazette, a feeling of optimism and hope that Wenger and the board were ready to show some ambition in the transfer market grew.

Lacazette has now completed his medical and an announcement is expected in the coming days. While his addition on its own is not enough to refresh a stagnating squad, it is a signal that Wenger is prepared to invest in players of a quality that will significantly improve the team.

Perhaps for Sanchez, the impending addition of Lacazette is enough to at least wait to see what signings Wenger is able to complete this summer. If he is able to bring in players of a quality and calibre that are pleasing, matching his ambition, then perhaps he will choose to stay.

Next: Arsenal: 3 players to sell to fund Alexandre Lacazette

Signing Lacazette does not simply wipe away all the troubles between Sanchez and Arsenal. There is still much work to be done. But it could be a turning point in their increasingly fractious relationship, changing the narrative for the betterment of the club.