Should Arsenal sell Manchester City target Alexis Sanchez?

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  • Alexis Sanchez (C)

    Alexis Sanchez’ future at Arsenal has been uncertain right from the start of the summer transfer window.

    While the Chilean is still a key player for the Gunners, Arsenal must decide whether to cash in on star forward now, or risk losing him on a free.

    Should he be sold?

    Let us know your thoughts as our two writers discuss the topic.

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    MATTHEW JONES, SAYS YES

    Philippe Coutinho has a tiny tattoo of an anchor etched onto his neck just below his left ear. This is apt as whether Liverpool enjoy success or endure another season of frustration is intrinsically linked to the diminutive Brazilian remaining tethered to Anfield.

    Similarly, the future of Alexis Sanchez at Emirates Stadium, though required, would not be ruinous to Arsenal’s Premier League title chances should he depart.

    Statistics surprisingly show that since Sanchez left Barcelona for London three summers ago, Arsenal’s record without their talisman is actually better – winning 74 per cent of games without him as opposed to just 58 per cent with.

    His sale might not be sought by Arsene Wenger or the Arsenal fans but its sanction would be eminently more sensible than that of Liverpool’s own South American schemer Coutinho – who so intricately links the Reds’ attacks.

    As fine a player as Sanchez is, he is a forward who finishes off moves rather than sparks them. The brilliant Brazilian is far more irreplaceable.

    Arsenal

    Sanchez was a huge player for Arsenal last season but the Gunners proved in victory against Leicester they have sufficient firepower to cover his loss.

    Four goals from four different players against the Foxes is encouraging and, even though their porous backline remains a concern, they’ll be entertaining going forward this season.

    They had 15 different scorers in 2016/17 – only Watford, Hull, Leicester, Everton and Manchester City had more personnel find the net.

    Alexandre Lacazette scored and generally looked lively in his first competitive start, which should give Wenger and the fans cause for optimism that the Frenchman will go some way to replacing the 24 Premier League goals bagged by Sanchez last term should they cash in.

    Selling him paves the way for Monaco forward Thomas Lemar to come in and help compatriot Lacazette – with Wenger confident he, Olivier Giroud, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Theo Walcott, Granit Xhaka, Alex Iwobi, Laurent Koscielny, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Sead Kolasinac could all help carry the weighty goalscoring burden.

    MATT MONAGHAN, SAYS NO

    The vacant look on Alexis Sanchez’s face as he watched Arsenal’s first-half collapse against Leicester City from an executive box spoke volumes.

    No matter his familiarity with the sinking feeling the Gunners regularly serve up, this latest disappointment resonated with the injured Chile superstar.

    This, of course, was before the rousing fightback which crowned another instalment of the Emirates Stadium soap opera. But for anyone associated with the home side, such happy endings will be far fewer if Sanchez’s absence becomes permanent.

    Alexis Sanchez

    Alexis Sanchez

    For Arsene Wenger’s men to have any pretension of making a first genuine Premier League title challenge in more than a decade, their only world-class player must be retained.

    Even if this means an asset worth north of £50 million (Dh237.5m) is allowed to leave for nothing next summer. Sanchez is the figure who adds stardust to a talented squad.

    Exciting new addition Alexandre Lacazette can still only aspire to the achievements of a forward who scored 24 times and assisted 10 more in the 2016/17 top flight. Arsenal only scored on 77 occasions, meaning Sanchez accounted for a whopping 31.2 per cent.

    No team can hope to succeed if such a contribution is taken away. Even more so if the asset heads to a direct rival. Links to Manchester City and a reunion with Pep Guardiola refuse to go away. His arrival would make the Blues almost unstoppable.

    When Manchester United sold Cristiano Ronaldo, the fact he went abroad to Real Madrid helped continue the most-successful spell in the club’s history rather than stop it in its tracks.

    Another aspect is what are the chances of Arsenal being able to buy a replacement of similar calibre if they sell Sanchez? Especially if they remain outside the Champions League?

    As manager Arsene Wenger has repeatedly, and optimistically stated, hopes of a contract renewal remain as long as Sanchez stays. Surely the retention of that dream is a price worth paying even a small fortune for?

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