Why Alexis Sanchez wants to leave Arsenal

The Chilean's frustrations have boiled over this season and it can no longer be a surprise that he wants to join a team who can win major trophies

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SPECIAL REPORT

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This summer could be the most turbulent period at Arsenal since the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri in 2011. Those months in the club’s history hold deep significance at Emirates Stadium due to the circumstances in which both players left north London, with Fabregas returning to his boyhood team Barcelona and Nasri allowed to leave for Manchester City due to “financial and psychological reasons”.

Wenger announcement at end of the season

“Football rules are made like that, that the player can be worth a lot of money today and nothing in six months so it doesn’t look completely logical but, at the end of the day, of course, we are forced into a decision like that for psychological and financial reasons,” said Wenger after the exits of both players were confirmed.

“I am a realist so I have no illusions. It's part of the modern life of a professional football player. It's not by coincidence that everybody suddenly lands at Man City.

“We did not want to lose Fabregas, but we were forced into a situation we didn’t want. Nasri is a situation where the player didn’t want to extend his contract with the proposals he had somewhere else. What kind of commitment can you have when the player is not there long-term? That is the question you have to answer.”

While Wenger has reiterated in the past that Arsenal are no longer in a position where they need to sell their best players, those comments suggest that he will allow players to go if he feels the long-term commitment isn’t there. And that’s where Alexis Sanchez comes in.

As Goal revealed on Tuesday, the Chilean has set his sights on a summer move to Manchester City where he wants to link up with his former Barcelona manager Pep Guardiola. The transfer is likely to prove a difficult one to negotiate for City but, if it goes through, they will be getting a player who has scored 22 goals and created 18 assists in 44 games this season. 

Man City confident of signing Alexis

Alexis's frustrations at Arsenal are nothing new. Leicester had already wrapped up the league title last year when the 28-year-old reacted angrily to being taken off in an end-of-season league game against Norwich when Wenger substituted him for defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin six minutes from time. It was a decision which infuriated Alexis as he stormed off the pitch and went straight down the tunnel, prompting his manager to make light of the situation.

“My job is to make decisions, and to make people 100 per cent happy there, as well, is very difficult,” said Wenger. 

“Of course [he was not happy], I know Alexis very well, for a long time now, and he wants to play every minute. But what's important is the team wins. The win was much wanted, needed and difficult.”


ALL CREDIT: GOAL.COM