Arsenal: Nabil Fekir worth waiting for, no matter when Alexis leaves

Arsenal may be able to offload Alexis Sanchez in the winter, but even so, patience for Nabil Fekir is well worth the accompanying reward.

Arsenal continue to give us plenty to worry about with the uncertain futures of both Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, but with Alexis certain to find the exit door, the pertinence of a replacement for him is the top priority.

There is a chance that we lose Alexis in the January window, which would obviously require and opposite (and preferably equal) reaction. But it may not come right away. In fact, anyone in January would not be able to compensate for the void that the Chilean will leave.

That said, it shouldn’t be avoided simply for that fact. If we can sell Alexis, sell him. Plain and simple. Compensating post-Alexis will be much easier when we get Aaron Ramsey back. Plus, that doesn’t mean we can’t find a temporary solution.

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But the main solution is worth waiting for – Nabil Fekir. The Lyon attacker will not be available in January, as his club are in the heat of the Ligue 1 race, but he should be available in the summer, and as I have mentioned on more than one occasion, there is no Alexis replacement more apt and able for the job than Nabil Fekir.

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And if you needed further proof, I’m here to provide it in the form of numbers. In terms of career numbers, the similarities between Fekir and Alexis are plain to see. It highlights their strengths and their weaknesses. Alexis has averaged 2.3 completed dribbles and 1.8 chances created in his career. Fekir has averaged 2.4 and 1.6.

Alexis is taking 2.5 shots per game, Fekir 2.4. Alexis is fouled 2.3 times per game, Fekir 2.4. Alexis has averaged a goal or assist every 121 minutes, Fekir every 126.

The similarities are a laundry list of near-identical numbers. The leagues participated in have been completely different, but Fekir is essentially in the same years as Alexis’s pre-Barcelona days. He joined Barca at 23. Fekir would be joining Arsenal at 24.

It’s this next big step for Fekir that will solidify him as the Chilean’s equal. At 23, Alexis was a highly-promising, budding superstar that nearly everyone wanted. At 24, Fekir is the same, a budding superstar that is becoming something really special.

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The big difference is that Arsenal would be getting Fekir at a crucial stage in his career, where he is trying to build his legacy. Alexis had largely built his and was merely looking for the capstone. Fekir will be looking for more building blocks and, ideally, down the road a bit, his own capstone.