Arsenal: What if Henrikh Mkhitaryan is a Mesut Ozil insurance policy?

Arsenal fans have been chalking up Henrikh Mkhitaryan as an Alexis Sanchez replacement, but what if he is actually here as security in case Mesut Ozil leaves too?

I had a horrible thought today. As I was sitting, thinking about how happy I was that Arsenal are finally moving forward, I couldn’t help but think “gee, usually any time I feel like this, something is about to go wrong.” That’s just how it goes with the Gunners, doesn’t it?

For those of you that don’t know, I am an eternal optimist. If you don’t believe me, check out the Pain in the Arsenal podcast, it’s literally part of the description. So this time around, allow me a spot of pessimism so that I can get it off my chest.

Anyway, in thinking of how this could all be wrong, and how Stan Kroenke could still come in and make this all about the money, I came up with a bothersome scenario.

For Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, Arsenal spent about £77m. That’s a big chunk of change, and a chunk coming from our greedy American owner.

We spent nothing on “replacing Sanchez” and if we buy Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, even for Borussia Dortmund’s asking price of £60m, then even if we let Mesut Ozil go for free at the end of the summer, we have still turned a nice profit on our two highest-profile superstars of the decade.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

But, and this is where I’m going to allow myself to get super pessimistic. What if Henrikh Mkhitaryan was brought in to cover for Ozil, not Alexis. And Aubameyang is the actual replacement to Alexis, with the point being to sell off Ozil still in January?

Then old boy Kroenke can make even more money while making it all look like progress.

Again, I’m just getting this off my mind, because it’s been stuck there. The one point of concern I have is that Mesut Ozil has yet to sign a new deal and, unfortunately, Arsene Wenger has spoken out again about not overpaying for wages.

Which is what made me think that the similarities between Mkhitaryan and Ozil may not be to compliment each other, but as an insurance policy in case the latter can’t be tied down.

Next: Arsenal's Ideal XI With Henrikh Mkhitaryan

I feel guilty even allowing myself this kind of pessimism, but do you see where I’m coming from? This is Arsenal we are talking about. And while I do believe in this ‘new leaf’ we have turned over, there are certain “old leaves” that I can’t simply forget about.

Home/Arsenal News