Arsenal: Keeping Alexis Sanchez away from Manchester City the goal

Arsenal seem to have been put on the spot with Alexis Sanchez’s statements, but no matter what happens, the Chilean cannot go to Manchester City.

Arsenal superstar Alexis Sanchez said some pretty indirectly direct comments the other day about wanting to play in the Champions League. Most people read into this as the kiss of death, especially with him saying that he had made his decision and was simply waiting on the Gunner’s reply.

I was less than sold that it was such an ultimatum. But that said, there is still that pervading feel that he could easily leave this summer. Wenger is insistent that the Chilean will stay, which risks him leaving on a free, wherever he wants, next summer.

If the primary goal is to keep hold of Alexis, which it obviously is, then the secondary goal needs to also be considered, just to prepare for the worst. And that secondary goal is to not allow Alexis to end up at Manchester City, where he can hurt the Gunners beyond just leaving.

That’s why this summer is particularly important. If there is any chance that Alexis could walk out of Arsenal and walk right on down to Manchester City next summer, then exploring options this summer is absolutely worth it. And by exploring options, I mean exploring other potential destinations to send Alexis to to avoid letting him end up at an immediate opponent.

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Bayern Munich have been tipped as suitors all year, but after landing James Rodriguez and Corentin Tolisso (two Arsenal targets…) they seem to have backed down from the idea of spending big on another attacker.

PSG, however, have re-emerged as a potential landing pad and, if that be the case, it should be taken incredibly seriously. The report even indicates that PSG are already in talks with Alexis’s people and look ready to unload whatever is necessary to land his services.

It is obviously nothing more than speculation, but as mentioned, we need to identify a secondary goal if Alexis cannot be held onto and keeping him out of City is almost just as important as not losing him at all. Not just because he will be in a position to damage our own aspirations, but because of the recent past when players fled to Premier League rivals all too frequently.

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Seeing Alexis sign a huge deal at PSG would be a bit of a relief, honestly. At least he is out of sight and out of mind and we can get back to business without him.

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