Crashing out of the top-4 is not an easy thing to digest but Arsene Wenger will have to move on as he will have to rebuild his squad for the next season. With no Champions League football, Wenger will be aiming for nothing less than the title but he will have to solve a huge crisis in Alexis Sanchez.
The Chilean winger has been in terrific form this season, picking up 24 goals and 11 assists in the domestic league. He stands as the most productive player in front of goal in England but the lack of progress at the Emirates has seen him look for an exit.
A number of reports suggest that with Arsenal out of the UCL, Sanchez could be on the move, with the likes of Manchester City, Bayern Munich, PSG and Chelsea ready to pounce on him. Arsenal are not in a position to negotiate as the 28-year old has just over a year left on his current contract. Though Wenger might look to run his deal down, he should not stop Sanchez from quitting if a suitable offer is placed.
Several reports in media suggest Sanchez could cost close to £60m, and though it might not be too much in this inflated market, it is a return for Arsenal on a player who they signed for around £35m in 2014.
But more importantly, Arsenal should let the player who is unhappy at the club leave, as it can have an adverse effect on the rest of the squad. Sanchez seemed agitated more of then than not on the field and Wenger will not want him to play with such an attitude next season.
His work rate and creativity are not easy to replace, but surely, it is not impossible. Arsenal are in the Europa League next season and can do with fighting for the league title till the end. They will need players who are ready to give their all till the final date. But Sanchez might want a winter exit if Arsenal start the next season on the back foot.
Sanchez is in his prime and will be, for another year. He has settled well at the club and is the talisman alongside Mesut Ozil and will be a huge loss for Arsenal, but it is certainly not the end of the world for Arsenal.
The manager Arsene Wenger is one of the best coaches in world football and there will not be a shortage of players who will jump at an opportunity to work under him. And at 28, Sanchez was not an option for years to come, so in a summer without UCL football to look forward to, Arsenal may have enough to time to work out their options and spend on the right player, who can have an impact and help them for years to come.
Such an option might be expensive, but they will recoup most of it when they sell Sanchez. So it is really not the end of the world for Arsenal if they lose Sanchez this summer.
