Arsenal: Nabil Fekir seamlessly replaces both Alexis and Mesut Ozil
By Josh Sippie
Arsenal will be exploring all the avenues in an attempt to replace Alexis Sanchez (more than Mesut Ozil) and no one is truer to the Chilean than Nabil Fekir.
Arsenal need to figure out how to replace Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil on a budget. And that’s obviously no easy feat given how ridiculous it is that both are ending their contracts at the same damn time.
Related Story: 9 Players Who Can Replace Mesut Ozil
According to the latest report from the Daily Star – which is dubious at best – the Gunners will seek to get £30m a piece for Alexis and Ozil. I realize that’s a stretch, given that they could just sign a pre-contract with another club, but let’s say that they can get that and sell them both.
The same report goes on to say that Nabil Fekir, the ideal solution to this entire potential fiasco, can be acquired for £60m. That’s a steep price, which is why I’m inclined to believe it, because we are dealing with Jean-Michel Aulas over at Lyon.
If true, then it’s written in plain ink (that’s a saying right?). You sell those two, grab a Wilfried Zaha to tide us over, and nab Nabil Fekir in the summer.
Fekir can replace both of the superstars in one fell swoop. And no, I’m not crazy. I have been advocating for a swap to the 3-4-1-2 for sometime now, and this could be that opportunity. Fekir in behind Olivier Giroud and Alexandre Lacazette is what dreams are made of.
More from Pain in the Arsenal
- 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
- 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
- 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
- Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
- 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
And if that doesn’t strike you as an attractive option, then stick with the 3-4-3 and use the money from Alexis and Ozil to buy Fekir still, that’s step one. Step two, now that you’ve broken even and have one hell of a signing, is to work some magic and get another signing or two to cover the rest of the issues.
Jack Wilshere and Aaron Ramsey can push up and play next to Fekir, then, since I’ve guaranteed that Leon Goretzka is coming to Arsenal, you just let him slip in next to Granit Xhaka and wa-la, it’s like Ozil and Alexis were never here.
The point is, there are ways around this problematic scenario. No, we shouldn’t even be in this predicament, but since it is indeed real life, it has to be dealt with and relying on versatility like Fekir has, well that’s a superb place to start.
Next: Arsenal's 30 Greatest Players Ever
It’s not all doom and gloom in the future. I, for one, can’t wait for Alexis and Ozil to leave, because it means we can finally get on with life.