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Arsenal better off accomplishing whatever they will without Alexis Sanchez
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal failed to sell Alexis Sanchez in the summer, but given how things have panned out, it has to be better to just move on without him.
Arsenal has been powered by Alexis Sanchez since his arrival in 2015. There is no debating that. When he was good, so was the team. Even in spite of the team, he was always reliable in his creation and threat towards goal.
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Things are different now. The word around town is now that Alexis Sanchez will absolutely not sign a new deal – he won’t even consider it. Hard to argue, seeing as how he wasn’t allowed to leave in the summer.
A transfer is a two way street and I have to believe that both Alexis and Arsenal have gotten a good deal out of the union of the two. Alexis got more exposure, a starring role and to play in England. Arsenal got a superstar to power the team and energize an often stale side.
Let me say this now – things are different now. Some want us to hold onto Alexis until the summer and then see him walk for free.
Others want him sold off in January. Let’s be clear about one thing – between those two options, you have to let him go in January. Recoup some sort of investment and turn that into something else, even if we have to wait until the summer for that something else.
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At this point, much like Mesut Ozil, I don’t see Alexis’s presence as anything that can’t be replaced. Even internally.
Danny Welbeck did it beautifully for the first part of the year and with Jack Wilshere back and Reiss Nelson on the up, we have three options, all bringing something different, all with so much to prove, to cover for Alexis.
I’m not worried. And if there truly is not a chance in the world that the Chilean signs, then let him go. Let the team move on and accomplish whatever they were going to accomplish without him. If he isn’t a part of this team now, he won’t be then.
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This is mostly about future progress, but to a certain extent, there is a minor degree of loyalty to the club. If Alexis isn’t a Gunner and is refusing to consider the prospect of being one for much longer, then let the people that actually want to be here play.