Dampened expectations likely to see Arsenal star head elsewhere
Published:
It was a season that promised great things for Arsenal. However, as winter gave way to spring the familiar regretful feelings of a collapsed title bid and premature Champions League exit came back to haunt the Emirates Stadium.
The ramifications are still unlikely to involve Arsene Wenger ducking out of his contract with only a year remaining, though the manager’s stubborn stance may not be shared by one of his very best players.
Rumours are afoot that Alex Sanchez may well week pastures new this summer, with Juventus known to be heading the queue.
One of two certified world-class attacking talents in the Gunners squad alongside Mesut Ozil, the Chilean livewire is understandably despondent about the way events have panned out in 2015/16.
After another telling contribution in the goal-scoring department, where he’s matched Olivier Giroud’s Premier League tally of 13, too often it’s been Sanchez who has been looked to for inspiration.
When the former Barcelona man has struggled, other than master lock-picking colleague Ozil, those around him have failed to chip in with enough goals and assists for Wengers’ underachievers.
Although Sanchez scooped an FA Cup to christen his electric debut campaign, successive exits in the first knockout round of the Champions League can only have indicated to him that Arsenal are operating at a rung below the level that he deserves.
Juventus are serial Serie A winners and came very close to landing the European Cup last season, only to eventually be edged out by a majestic Barca vintage in the final.
No doubt Sanchez would have arrived in north London full of hope that his ambitions for top trophies could be realised at the Emirates under Wenger.
The reality has proven to be something very different. Unless Arsenal break from tradition and perform something miraculous in the transfer market this summer, then with his 28th birthday in sight it will be no surprise to see Sanchez leave.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
