Is Alexis Sanchez playing for the transfer window?

Thursday night’s game against Crystal Palace, saw Alexis Sanchez score two goals. Were those two goals for Arsenal or for another team?

So far this season, Alexis Sanchez has played and started 15 Premier League games. Of those 15 games, he has scored seven goals and amassed three assists. Of those seven goals, two came against Crystal Palace on Thursday night in a crucial but hard-earned victory for Arsenal.

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Is he starting to come into form because he is enjoying regular playing? Or is there a more sinister underlying reason, like perhaps wanting to engineer a move away?

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Alexis was a very promising player when he was brought to the Emirates in 2014. He was a fan favorite in his first season, scoring 16 goals in the Premier League. In his second season with Arsenal, he scored 13 goals, which, by his standards, was pretty low. But by the time his third season came around, he really kicked it up a notch. He became the Gunners’ ‘savior’, of sorts, scoring a whopping 24 goals in 36 appearances in the Premier League.

He has found it difficult to replicate that kind of form and prowess in front of goal this year. He has spent more time screaming and shouting, pouting at his troubles, gesticulating at his teammates, more than has been putting the ball in the back of the net. When he’s on the ball, I’m more worried about whether he’s gonna lose it or just give it away than the danger that he poses. He hasn’t threatened opposition defenses as frequently; that element of magic and unpredictably has seemingly seeped away.

One reason for that is his contract dispute with Arsenal.

Alexis is threatening to leave North London on a sour note by just going through the motions. His same ratty, relentless attitude has been replaced with a pretending to care, unmoved by the result or the fate of the team. My opinion would be just to sell him on for as much as possible. He is clearly not going to agree to a new deal and I fear that his commitment levels will only worsen as the year progresses.

Is he still needed at the club? This season he has not shown me anything resembling a player who wants to play for a club, but would rather play for the name on the back of the jersey. He reminds me a lot of Robin Van Persie. There was a clear pining for a departure. That was the only reason the performances were of such a high level. Surely it would be better to invest time, energy and resources in a player who actually wants to be at Arsenal.

Next: Arsenal Vs Palace: 5 things we learned

I find having Alexis around toxic for the club and the players, as seen in the celebrations against Palace. Arsenal need to move beyond the Alexis Sanchez era and welcome in some new faces, some that will fight for the badge. Alexis needs to leave.