Just months after letting Alexis Sanchez join Manchester United, Arsenal are once again linked with a move for the former Barcelona star. Bookmakers Coral have placed Arsenal joint-favourites to sign the Chilean international, along with French giants PSG. Bayern Munich and Juventus are also mentioned, but it is the story linking him with a move back to London, that is catching the eye.
With four back to back victories in the league, Unai Emery’s Arsenal are back on track this season. In his first year in charge in England, the former Sevilla manager has undoubtedly made an impact on the Premier League. However, the quality of the teams around them would need Arsenal to improve the quality of the squad in certain areas.
There are not too many players that can instantly improve this Arsenal side that are available in the transfer market. But the Gunners continue to be linked with some exciting names and one name they are now in the mix for is Chilean international Alexis Sanchez.
After registering 80 goals and 45 assists in 166 appearances in all competitions, Sanchez decided not to extend his Emirates stay last season and was sold to Manchester United, in exchange for Henrikh Mkhitaryan. The Armenian has benefitted from rejoining Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang in the attack at Emirates, but Sanchez has cut a lone figure at Old Trafford, facing constant criticism.
Sanchez is currently on a £500,000-a-week package, making him the highest earner in the Premier League. But since his move to United, the 29-year old has registered just three goals and six assists in 23 outings across all competitions. He has been the first choice for Jose Mourinho on the left wing, with the likes of Anthony Martial and Jesse Lingard waiting on the sidelines.
But the fact that Sanchez has not scored a league goal in just over 800 minutes of football in the Red of Manchester would make the fans and the manager nervous. He is a big match player and won Arsenal a number of high profile games. But does it make sense for the Gunners to bring him back to Emirates?
The answer would be a resounding NO!
Emery’s system may help Sanchez regain his lost form, but Arsenal are slowly but steadily moving in the right direction and should not take a step back. Mourinho spent on Sanchez to try and find immediate solutions for problems he had in his squad, but Sanchez has done close to nothing to solve them.
He may make an impact at Emirates, but at 29, he would only be a short-term option for Emery, something the Spanish manager should avoid. The likes of Mesut Ozil, Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Pierre Emerick-Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette have enough firepower in them to beat the best of the teams in the league. They need to find some consistency to take the club back to their best.
If Emery wants to add another option to his attack, it makes more sense for him to shop for the long term. So this story can be ignored by the Gunners faithful.
