Arsenal vs Bournemouth: Alexis Sanchez return changes little

Arsenal were supposed to reassess Alexis Sanchez’s health, but he seems determined to skip that step. So what happens to the starting XI?

Arsene Wenger said in his pre-match press conference that he would have to reassess Alexis Sanchez‘s health before they made a decision about how involved he would be when Arsenal take on Bournemouth at the Emirates.

Naturally, though, Alexis is already taking to social media to prove that he is ready:

Which means that he will start. Because Alexis is the best judge of his own abilities and as hard as I am finding it to believe that he will be his usual self while wanting to be elsewhere, I can’t deny that I’m excited to see him back out there.

Mostly because he seems determined to put in a good showing in his last year at the club.

But let me make something perfectly clear. Just because Alexis Sanchez is healthy and ready to go does not meant that Arsene Wenger needs to think himself into another damning situation where he benches crucial guys.

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Last time Alexis was healthy, against Liverpool – I probably don’t need to remind you of this – Wenger decided that it would be better for the team if he sat club record signing Alexandre Lacazette and started Danny Welbeck in his stead.

This was a bad decision. A very bad decision. It stuck Alexis Sanchez right where he has always been.If there is any ounce of Wenger that thinks he can still get Alexis to stay, he is going to have to show the Chilean the changes that have been made.

Namely, that Lacazette is damn good and will be an asset to this club going forward.

Alexis was even stuck into the striker position against Liverpool, which is what gives me the most pause. He had his time at striker and we realized that it wasn’t worth losing him in the midfield. This takes double effect if it’s Welbeck that is going to be playing in midfield.

Lacazette and Olivier Giroud are the only two people I ever want to see stuck in at the No. 9 role this year. Anything else is a mistake.

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There should be no questioning who the front three should be if Alexis is healthy. It’s Alexis, Mesut Ozil and Lacazette. There is also no reason for me to have to state this, yet here I am.