Arsenal: Angel di Maria the perfect replacement for Alexis Sanchez

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 09: Angel Di Maria of Agrentina controls the ball during the Brazil Global Tour match between Brazil and Argentina at Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 9, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images)
MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - JUNE 09: Angel Di Maria of Agrentina controls the ball during the Brazil Global Tour match between Brazil and Argentina at Melbourne Cricket Ground on June 9, 2017 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Robert Cianflone/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

With the imminent exit of Alexis Sanchez approaching, a replacement is needed. Angel di Maria would be ideal, but are Arsenal willing to splash the cash?

Arsenal’s talisman Alexis Sanchez looks set to join Manchester City in the coming weeks. The Chilean is keen on playing under Pep Guardiola and a deal looks very close to happening. An agreement on a fee is the only missing piece to finalize the deal. With Sanchez set to be exiting, a replacement is needed and, I believe, that Angel di Maria is the perfect man for the job,

Catch the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal podcast here

The first question to ask is a logistical, real-world one: Could it actually happen?

More from Pain in the Arsenal

The Argentinian definitely looks like he wants to leave Paris Saint-Germain due to his lack of play time. But would Arsenal want to pay the fee? Di Maria would probably cost around £50 million. Generally speaking, Arsene Wenger is hesitant to ever cough up the funds necessary for world-class players. However, the Alexandre Lacazette signing shows that he may be trying to turn over a new leaf, giving the fans what they want.

Moreover, as the old adage goes: desperate times call for desperate measures. There is already an air of tension among the fans whenever there is an unsatisfactory result. The disgruntlement of the fans would increase ten-fold if a valid replacement wasn’t brought in for an outgoing Sanchez. So yes, it is possible, even if a little unlikely.

The first problem that comes to mind when Arsenal fans hear about the possibility of signing Di Maria is his poor season with Manchester United.

He played just one season in England, and was mediocre at best. Despite his struggles, though, there is no doubt that he has an abundance of skill and talent. Di Maria’s poor season could well be attributed to his manager, Louis van Gaal. The experienced Dutch manager did not fancy him at all, and forced him to the bench, eventually leaving the former Real Madrid man to move to France.

With 2018 being a World-Cup year, di Maria could well be looking for a  club that will give him more first-team football, with the chance to establish himself within the Argentinian ranks. The Gunners, then, would be a perfect fit for di Maria. Not only can they offer minutes, but they provide a complementary style of play. Creativity, ingenuity, and smart, intelligent attacking football is something that Wenger and di Maria both value highly. It just makes sense.

Next: Arsenal Vs Bournemouth: Predicted starting XI

The idea of Sanchez leaving this month looks increasingly likely. A replacement is needed to keep the fans happy. Di Maria would certainly not be the cheapest option, but he undoubtedly would be one of the best.