Arsenal: Keeping Alexis Sanchez, with or without contract, wise

The question of whether Alexis Sanchez should stay or go is a prominent one that Arsenal must answer soon. Here is why I would keep him, with or without a new contract.

Being able to allow the best players in your squad to leave is an extremely difficult judgement call. It is one that all the best managers in history have been able to make. Sir Alex Ferguson and David Beckham. Pep Guardiola and Yaya Toure. Jose Mourinho and Juan Mata. Arsene Wenger himself has sold some of his Arsenal stars, only to go on and improve his squad.

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While there was a period where the departure of the more prominent members of the squad would cripple Wenger’s building of it, more recently, he has been able to retain his established stars. In fact, since Robin van Persie’s controversial exit in 2012, Wenger has only sold players who he no longer needs.

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This summer, though, such cushy times are over. After delaying contract talks on numerous occasions, performing at a level that is beyond the calibre of the club, and growing frustrated with life at the Emirates, it has been reported, and is expected, that Alexis Sanchez will leave the club in the coming months. The most recent reports suggest that Sanchez himself is willing to force a move, with Manchester City his preferred target.

With just a year left to run on his contract, if Arsenal were to reject any advances for his services, they would run the risk of losing him next summer. However, I believe there is merit to keeping him, with or without a new contract. And here’s why.

Sanchez will be 29 next summer. He is coming towards the end of his prime and Father Time will catch up with eventually. While 29 is not an especially old age, given the number of games that he will have played, there it is a reasonable thought to suggest that he will be unable to replicate his same relentless, energy-sapping style late into his career.

Before Barcelona, Sanchez played for Italian club Udinese, from the age of 19 to 22. In those three years, still as a young, growing player, he made 112 appearances in all competitions. He then played for three years at Barcelona, up until he was 25, amassing 141 appearances in all competitions. In his three years at Arsenal, he has featured in 147 games. That is a lot of games for any player, nevermind one with Sanchez’s lung-bursting, leg-sapping approach.

Moreover, in that nine-year span, he has played 97 games for the Chile national side, including two World Cups and three Copa Americas. If Arsenal kept him for another season and played him in almost every game, undeterred by the long-lasting injury issues they may be inflicting on him, Sanchez could easily play another 50-60 club games. In addition, there is another World Cup next year, in which he will play a major part for Chile.

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Letting star players leave is never an easy decision. However, at some point, star players are no longer such. Given the number of appearances that he has made and the style with which he has played them, that time could well be next summer for Sanchez. Keeping him for another year and risk losing him next summer may not be the worst idea in the world.