Arsenal: ‘Sick’ Alexis Sanchez shows the turmoil of uncertainty

Alexis Sanchez has claimed that he is ‘sick’ on social media, just as Arsene Wenger has recalled him to Arsenal to resume training for the coming season. The whole trial shows the turmoil of uncertainty.

Thanks to his exertions in the Confederations Cup with Chile earlier in the summer, Arsene Wenger, like with Shkodran Mustafi, and Rob Holding and Calum Chambers who were at the under 21 European Championships, gave Alexis Sanchez an extended break from Arsenal’s preseason activities, endeavouring to provide him with as long a period of rest as possible.

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It seems like a sensible decision. It was a sensible decision. But Sanchez, given his assumed desire to leave, has not helped matters. On Friday morning, just after being asked by Wenger to return to training in the next few days, Sanchez posted a picture on social media with the caption ‘sick’.

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Now, there is the clear possibility that Sanchez could be telling the truth. He could indeed be sick and simply does not feel well enough to train again. However, given the context of his actions — the timing, just after Wenger asked him to return, the rumoured desire to leave, the fact that he is in the last year of his contract — it is, in all honesty, a little difficult to believe.

And this is the crux of the issue. Whether Sanchez’s is telling the truth or not does not matter all that much. If he’s lying, it’s not great behaviour, but it’s far from the worst thing he could have done. The key issue is the turmoil that the uncertainty of his situation creates.

Because no one knows if he is staying or going, at least publicly, every action, from him, the club and Wenger is interpreted through the transfer lens of: ‘Does this mean he’s going to leave?’

Add to the mix a report from The Daily Mirror that claims that Sanchez and his agent disagree over whether he should see out his contract, with the agent, surprisingly enough, arguing for the honourable side of the debate, and suddenly, it is clear to see that, well, clarity is not the prevailing characteristic.

The uncertainty over Sanchez’s future is causing chaos. And such is his importance to Arsenal’s prospects, that the chaos caused filters through to every level of the club. Wenger doesn’t know if he must pursue a replacement, the players don’t know if they are going to have to acclimatise to a new teammate, assuming a replacement is found, and the fans have no idea what to believe whatsoever.

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The whole situation is a mess and some definitive clarity needs to come. Little can be determined until Sanchez’s future is and the uncertainty is beginning to cripple the progress this club can make.