Tag Archives: Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal set to SELL up to 11 senior players (and none are Ozil or Sanchez)

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In recent weeks, the big transfer news at Arsenal has been about the contract situations of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil.

It has been well written by many that both have 18 months left on their contract and are currently stalling on negotiations. Some say they are waiting on Arsene Wenger to declare his future, or for it to be announced who his replacement might be, others say they are driven by money, with rumours of a $400,000 offer on the table from China – I always laugh that the offer is ‘from China’ without mentioning a particular club.

Some say that want to ensure they are playing for a competitive club, and will wait to see if we do challenge (and win) the title, whilst Ian Wright thinks they will both sign, but will do in the summer where they will be worth even more if they take Arsenal to the title.

The future of both is concerning for all Arsenal fans, but there are another 11 senior players who’s future at the club might not be bright. And entire starting XI could leave Arsenal this summer.

David Ospina has been linked away from Arsenal ever since Petr Cech joined. Currently the clubs Champions League keeper, he is also likely to play in the FA Cup in the New Year. The Colombian will be 29 next season, entering the peak for a goal keeper. Would he really want to spend his best years sitting on Arsenal’s bench?

The writing is also on the wall for Carl Jenkinson. The boyhood Arsenal fan looks like a deer in headlights every time he puts on an Arsenal shirt. He is good enough to be 2nd choice right back behind Hector Bellerin, but in his own head, Arsenal are too big for him. His demise from one of West Ham’s best players a few years ago has been incredible.

When Frenchman Mathieu Debuchy started against Bournemouth, some were surprised he was still at the club. His contract does not expire until 2019, but with injuries now piling up, and reports of a poor attitude at times, if he is not sold next summer, he will surely be sent out on loan.

Per Mertesacker. The big German. The captain. His contract runs out at the end of the year and there has been no talk about him getting a new one. With the form of Shkodran Mustafi and Laurent Koscielny, and the development of Rob Holding, Arsenal no longer require his services. He will be able to get himself a nice big contract back in Germany.

After a season of poor form, Arsenal will surely sign a stronger left back than either Nacho Monreal or Kieran Gibbs. With Gibbs being younger and English, and Monreal’s future potentially tied to that of best mate Santi Cazorla (more later), it is the Spaniard who will make way.

Another on borrowed time is Calum Chambers. After a brilliant start to his Arsenal career where he looked like an assured, ball playing centre back, he has gone backwards. Part of this is due to him being played in multiple positions – a bit like Phil Jones at Man U – and part of it due to not getting enough game time. He has made 10 appearances for Middlesborough this season but has been outshone by fellow youngster Ben Gibson. With Rob Holding also at the club, Arsenal will struggle to give to young centre backs enough time to develop. He might be saved by the fact Debuchy & Jenkinson are likely to go, meaning Arsenal need a back up right back.

Santi Cazorla has already played his last game for Arsenal Football Club in my opinion. Now 32, with 18 months of poor injuries behind (and head) of him, his contract runs out at the end of this season. I can not see Arsenal offering him any more than a new 1 year deal. Something that Cazorla will surely not accept. He has spoken previously about finishing his career at Spain, and that time has come. And he will take Nacho Monreal with him.

Another who’s Arsenal career is almost certainly over his Jack Wilshere. Playing once a week for Bournemouth does not mean he is good enough to play twice a week for Arsenal. He clearly enjoys the sea air, a lower intensity of life, and time away from his trouble making friends. Bournemouth are able to manage his work load in a way that a big club like Arsenal are unable to facilitate. Arsenal need fit players playing twice a week. Wilshere does not fit the bill.

Joel Campbell is out on loan at Sporting. With the development of Alex Iwobi, nothing will change for Campbell next year. He will still be surplus to requirements, and will either be loaned once more, or sold.

Homegrown striker Chuba Akpom is at a cross roads in his career. He has not progressed from talented youngster to senior superstar. 4 average loan deals, and Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud, Danny Welbeck and Lucas Perez ahead of him, there will be no chance for him to break through in the future.

Lastly we come to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. Whilst everyone is going on about Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez’s contract coming to an end in 2018, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s also does. Another player at a cross roads in his career, he has never really secured a place in Arsenal’s starting XI. He is getting a run now, a chance to prove himself, but if he fails to impose himself on games consistently, he might have to look elsewhere next summer, take a step down to get regular football.

 

Arsenal could end up off loading an entire XI. I wonder how this lot would get on in the Premier League:

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Keenos

Alexis Sanchez’s 3 year itch

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Fact 1: Alexis Sanchez has never spent longer than 3 seasons at a club

Fact 2: Alexis Sanchez has never signed a second contract at a club

I have recently come to terms with the fact that Alexis Sanchez will leave Arsenal in the summer. He will not be signing a new contract. He will move elsewhere. I am not happy with it, as he is a World Class player who is the sides talisman, but it will be Alexis Sanchez’s choice.

Throughout his career, he has not stayed anywhere very long. He came to Europe in 2008 signing for Udinese. After 3 years in Italy, Barcelona came sniffing. No one would turn down Barcelona. He signed a 5 year contract with the Catalan giants.

Just 3 years later, he was on the move once more. This time to Arsenal. Having failed to establish himself as a superstar in Spain, and with Neymar, Lionel Messi and newly signed Luis Suarez ahead of him, he joined Arsenal.

All his moves were justifiable. You can see why he left each club, but the facts remain that he has never spent longer than 3 years at a club, nor signed a second contract.

He has also never played more than 100 league games for a club – 95 at Udinese, 88 at Barcelona, currently 79 at Arsenal.

alexis-sanchez-2

Sanchez has unfinished business in Italy. Whilst at Udinese he failed to pick up a trophy. I can see a move to Juventus materialising.

At 28, he perhaps has 6 more years left in him at the top level. So another two clubs. I can also see him going to PSG. They will pay big wages, and he will be guaranteed silverware. He then would have had some success in Spain, England, Italy (if he wins something for Juvenuts) and France. And would have experienced great cities throughout Europe.

He will then probably return to Chile as a hero.

And that is a key point as well. He will always struggle to be a club legend due to him moving, but he is a Chilean hero. An Icon. A legend. He has always put country before club, and it has previously infuriated managers as he puts his body on the line, with no regard to who pays his wages.

Sanchez reminds me a lot of Carlos Tevez. Both came from poverty to become global superstars.

Tevez also struggled to stay at any one club for very long. His longest stint was at Manchester City, where he played for 4 years.

The writing is on the wall, Sanchez will leave Arsenal this summer.

Keenos

Silly Sanchez in Switzerland

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iWhy the hell has Alexis Sanchez gone to Switzerland?

The game is pretty much a dead rubber, with Arsenal relying on PSG to lose at home to a bunch of Bulgarian goat farmers to be within a chance of topping the group. And with the way other groups are, it pretty much makes no difference this year if we finish 1st or 2nd in the group, with regards as to who we play in the next round.

Yes, I understand those flying out today have spent good money, so deserve to see a good team. And I imagine their is pressure from sponsors for Arsene Wenger to play the big players on the big stage, but in the grand scheme of a season, tonight’s game is pretty much meaningless.

So why is Alexis Sanchez on the plane?

Between the game against Manchester United and the FA Cup tie against Preston in January, Arsenal have 13 games in 50 days. That is 1 game every 3.8 days. A hectic schedule. To ensure we have the best chance in the Premier League, we need to rest and rotate when we can, and today is an ideal opportunity.

It is not just the 90 minutes, but what go’s on around that 90 minutes. The mental and physical preparation required. The travelling. The flights. The hotels.

Arsene Wenger could, and should, have given all first team players the week off.

On Sunday they should have all been in for a rehabilitation session. Stretching. Yoga. Ice baths. Get the muscles repairing after the West Ham tie. Then give them Monday off. Unless they want to see the physio, they should not be seen at the training ground. A day playing golf, a bit of Christmas shopping. A day to rest their body and minds.

Then today, they should all be at the training ground participating in a light training session. Nothing to strenuous. Just some more stretching, yoga, some light gym work. Let the bodies fully recover.

Tomorrow, back to full training, preparing for Stoke City on Saturday.

In the past we have seen players pick up minor injuries – which at Arsenal always seem to turn into major injuries – due to being over played. Due to being in their red zone. Due to not getting a little break.

Taking into account that Alexis Sanchez has been flying around the globe for the last 2 years representing Chile, as well as his non-stop performances for Arsenal, he needs to be given a rest.

Sanchez might not be happy about being told to rest. He comes across as the type of character who wants to play all the time. He will probably sulk. But that is where Wenger needs to manage him. Explain why he isn’t playing him. Tell him to go and chill with his dogs for a few days.

It just seems silly that Sanchez is in Switzerland.

Keenos