Alexis Sanchez | Signed for Arsenal

[KingMinger22]

Would be an absolutely perfect signing and would thrive in the PL.

£35m would be a steal.

 

[George Owen]

I accept he is a better player, and this would probably be better off in the unpopular opinion thread, but as the argument always goes - Nani hasnt really had consistent gametime, as your stats there show, whilst Sanchez has been a regular for Barcelona.

Additionally in the system Barca have played in that timespan, the wingers/inside forward were expected to contribute to the scoring - we have played predominantly a 4-4-2, which means less attack and more defending for the wide men, and less goals as well.

I would go so far as to say that if Nani had been playing as an inside forward for Barca for the last 4 seasons, and Sanchez had been playing on the right wing for us, those stats would be practically reversed (ie in favour of Nani).

wut!?

If Alexis had been playing with us for the last 4 seasons, i have no doubt he would already won a Ballon d Or, or at least be in the race for it. Nani probably benched and injured.

Anyway, i hope there is some true on all this speculation of us being interested on him.

 

[gooDevil]

I accept he is a better player, and this would probably be better off in the unpopular opinion thread, but as the argument always goes - Nani hasnt really had consistent gametime, as your stats there show, whilst Sanchez has been a regular for Barcelona.

Additionally in the system Barca have played in that timespan, the wingers/inside forward were expected to contribute to the scoring - we have played predominantly a 4-4-2, which means less attack and more defending for the wide men, and less goals as well.

I would go so far as to say that if Nani had been playing as an inside forward for Barca for the last 4 seasons, and Sanchez had been playing on the right wing for us, those stats would be practically reversed (ie in favour of Nani).

Nani has certainly looked much better for Portugal where they play (last time I checked which was a bit ago admittedly) a 433 and he cuts inside for many scoring chances.

This is a fair point you make, Nani would score more in a 433 and Sanchez less in a 442. I would say we play a 4231, where the wide players can have a lot or a little initiative to cut inside and score depending on the tactics. But I would agree he would still score more in a 433 than our 4231 under SAF.

I don't think that their stats would flip, though. They would probably be pretty close.

Sanchez, though, has actually been available to play these last two years, unlike Nani, and this is a pretty big concern when you're considering overall impact. Who knows how many games Nani will play these next few years, but it's fair to expect it to be considerably less than Sanchez from their respective injury records.

Sanchez is much like the player I thought Nani would become, but now doubt he ever will. Imho, anyway.

 

[Member 5225]

hmmmm, is it just me or is Sanchez quite overrated...

 

[Walrus]

Nani has certainly looked much better for Portugal where they play (last time I checked which was a bit ago admittedly) a 433 and he cuts inside for many scoring chances.

This is a fair point you make, Nani would score more in a 433 and Sanchez less in a 442. I would say we play a 4231, where the wide players can have a lot or a little initiative to cut inside and score depending on the tactics. But I would agree he would still score more in a 433 than our 4231 under SAF.

I don't think that their stats would flip, though. They would probably be pretty close.

Sanchez, though, has actually been available to play these last two years, unlike Nani, and this is a pretty big concern when you're considering overall impact. Who knows how many games Nani will play these next few years, but it's fair to expect it to be considerably less than Sanchez from their respective injury records.

Sanchez is much like the player I thought Nani would become, but now doubt he ever will. Imho, anyway.

I agree, mostly. At this moment in time, Sanchez would be an improvement on Nani. How big an improvement we can only speculate - however you regularly see big European flops in the PL, I dont think it would be outside of the realms of possibility that Sanchez could be one of them. He is certainly not in that upper echelon of players like Ronaldo and Messi, and nor would I place him in the secondary "still really fecking good" tier with Suarez, Bale, Aguero, Hazard, Neymar et al.

 

[Trizy]

hmmmm, is it just me or is Sanchez quite overrated...

Just you. I think he can be better in a proper system than he is current at Barcelona, he just became another cog in the Messi machine when he arrived there where as he would have the freedom to express himself more elsewhere.

 

[sun_tzu]

Barca are linked with reuss
we are linked with sanchez
good though sanchez is I hope we at least try and compete for reuss and when he turns us down either out of loyalty to dortmund / klopp or for cl football and a sunny climate then sanchez is a great plan b

 

[bosnian_red]

The nani between 2010 and 2012 was a world class winger without a doubt, better then Sanchez IMO. But Sanchez still has room to improve and hasn't improved as much as he should have because he just became a cog in the Barca machine and they stifled him basically. The problem with nani is that since that run of form, he's constantly been injured and had like 2-3 games at most where he was fit. Impossible to pick up form. Sanchez though doesn't seem to pick up many injuries so him simply being there would be a huge improvement, adding on to the fact that he's an excellent player in his own right.

 

[Mister Ed]

I agree, mostly. At this moment in time, Sanchez would be an improvement on Nani. How big an improvement we can only speculate - however you regularly see big European flops in the PL, I dont think it would be outside of the realms of possibility that Sanchez could be one of them. He is certainly not in that upper echelon of players like Ronaldo and Messi, and nor would I place him in the secondary "still really fecking good" tier with Suarez, Bale, Aguero, Hazard, Neymar et al.

You can't place any of our current players there, not even RVP or Mata. For the rest putting Hazard and Neymar in that tier ? On what basis, Sanchez has better stats than both of them...

He would be one of the best players in the squad if he came here and he plays on a position (right wing) that has been a problem area for us for a long time. Also he wouldn't cost anything near the prices of the players you summed up, he'd come for a price around €30m - €35m, that is the kind of money we paid for Fellaini and are playing to pay for Shaw. Honestly signing Sanchez, you really can't go wrong on that one, position wise, quality wise, experience wise, financial wise, he is a sensible top signing we could make for good money, but no lets just keep on giving chances and waisting good time on Nani. Nani has literlay done feck all for over 2 seasons, even if he is similar to Nani and Nani has the same skillset, just the fact Sanchez isn't as injurry prone and has been able to provide a decent return and perform on a consistent high level, that is more than enough reason to spend that kind of money on him.

It is not hard to speculate how much of an improvement he would be over Nani, simply having a player who'll be fit for an entire season and can play consistently well on that right wing would be a massive improvement over Nani. People fecking talk about Nani like he is one our most important players in the team and that he is a superstar, but the reality is he has been of our most unreliable players and one of the smallest contributors on the pitch, I don't care wheter that is for reasons (partly) beyond his control, it is still a fact, Nani has been absolutley useless for us for the last 2 seasons (even with Fergie still in charge, so don't come throwing the Moyes card on the table).

Peoples reasoning about Nani is just like with Anderson, he has been getting too much support for far too long, building up a massive problem in our squad. He has got so many fanboys still clinging onto those performances of 4 years ago, basing it all on the massive potential many saw in him when we just signed him. On that account Rooney should still be viewed as one of the top 3 players in the world, based on the potential he had when we signed him and on the form he showcased 4 years. reality is those players simply haven't turned out the way we hoped they would turn out, but it is time we start accepting that, rather keep on dreaming about this potential that never materialised on the pitch. I'am starting to hate that word around here, potential and talent, it is used way too often as an excuse for any fanboy player that has been massively underperforming for too long. Nani is not the only case of that, Anderson as I said before is similar, Cleverley is also a massive case of the fanboy forive it all mentality. I don't know why, but with some players alot of people can come to the conclusion that a player has just failed, and that on the basis of performances shoudln't have a place in the team anymore, but with some it just won't sink in at all. Maybay it is down to the fact that Nani hasn't been playing, that is also an excuse many like to throw in your face when talking about Nani and his failure to contribute, there is a reason he hasn't been playing for so long, and simply the fact that he has hardly been involved for a very long time (no matter the cause) is reason enough to atleast have serious question marks about this player. What counts is what is brought on the pitch and nothing else, and in case Nani it could hardly be less, any other top club not having any usefull involvement for over 2 seasons and you are likely shipped out, but with us, people still use him as an excuse not sign a top player like Sanchez, unbefeckinglievable !

I would give my leftnut to have Sanchez in the team instead of Nani !

 

[Sied]

I wonder if Hernandez is on his way out, is there any commercial benefit to keeping a high profile South American in the team. Similar to how Kagawa coincidently came in the same year Park left.

I'm not saying a player would be brought in purely for the commercial gains, but could it mean Woody would be prepared to splash the cash a little more because the investment would pay for itself?

Perhaps I'm being a little harsh on Valencia and Rafael, but can't see them having the same attraction as Hernandez or Sanchez.

 

[pablotatt]

He'd be a revelation in this league.

 

[Walrus]

Bigger players than Sanchez have flopped in the PL. He is far from a risk free signing. Yes, he represents an improvement over what we have got, however like I said, we are very heavily stacked with attacking options and with less games next year, I cant see us accomodating a player like Sanchez (who will rightly expect to be first choice) and still finding a means to play Rooney, RVP, Mata, Januzaj, Welbeck, Hernandez, Kagawa, Valencia, Young and maybe even finding games for Zaha, Wilson and Lawrence.

Yes, some of those players will leave, but if we are signing a Sanchez then we would need to see a good 4-5 of the above players shipped out, otherwise the squad is simply too big next season. You or I can happily name players we would like the club to sell, but I cant realistically see us having an overhaul of that extent, in the one area of the pitch where we HAVENT found the personnel to be totally inadequate. It seems like change for the sake of change, and I would sooner we buy a CM, LB, RB, CB, and another CM before investing in forwards and attacking players.

 

[Phil]

This would just make too much sense for us to ever complete.

 

[Baxter]

I genuinely have no idea how people can possibly think he'd be an unnecessary signing after watching 2 seasons of absolute dreadful wing play. It's absolutely amazing that people would turn him down because we have to find games for Valencia or Young or because we have 4 strikers when he's better than everyone we have on the wing. If he's available he'd be just as good a signing as a midfielder.

 

[NMF]

Bigger players than Sanchez have flopped in the PL. He is far from a risk free signing. Yes, he represents an improvement over what we have got, however like I said, we are very heavily stacked with attacking options and with less games next year, I cant see us accomodating a player like Sanchez (who will rightly expect to be first choice) and still finding a means to play Rooney, RVP, Mata, Januzaj, Welbeck, Hernandez, Kagawa, Valencia, Young and maybe even finding games for Zaha, Wilson and Lawrence.

Yes, some of those players will leave, but if we are signing a Sanchez then we would need to see a good 4-5 of the above players shipped out, otherwise the squad is simply too big next season. You or I can happily name players we would like the club to sell, but I cant realistically see us having an overhaul of that extent, in the one area of the pitch where we HAVENT found the personnel to be totally inadequate. It seems like change for the sake of change, and I would sooner we buy a CM, LB, RB, CB, and another CM before investing in forwards and attacking players.

Signing Sanchez is the whole point of improving the squad, His better than all our wide options. The logical choice would be casting out Young and Valencia while bringing in Sanchez and promoting Lawrence/Lingaard.

It's also highly possible Young, Hernandez one of Nani/Valencia, Zaha won't be here next season.

 

[Xaviesta]

hmmmm, is it just me or is Sanchez quite overrated...

You're entitled to your opinion, but I think it's just you. A vast improvement on United's current wide players.

 

[Feed Me]

The nani between 2010 and 2012 was a world class winger without a doubt, better then Sanchez IMO. But Sanchez still has room to improve and hasn't improved as much as he should have because he just became a cog in the Barca machine and they stifled him basically. The problem with nani is that since that run of form, he's constantly been injured and had like 2-3 games at most where he was fit. Impossible to pick up form. Sanchez though doesn't seem to pick up many injuries so him simply being there would be a huge improvement, adding on to the fact that he's an excellent player in his own right.

Nani had a very good spell, but Sanchez hit over 20 goals last season. I'd say he's a level above Nani.

 

[Isotope]

I'd even pick Sanchez over Reus.

 

[ecantona7]

Nani had a very good spell, but Sanchez hit over 20 goals last season. I'd say he's a level above Nani.

Sanchez was class at udinese.

I'd even pick Sanchez over Reus.

it's close between these two but I'd have to go with Reus.

 

[Lawman]

Nani had a very good spell, but Sanchez hit over 20 goals last season. I'd say he's a level above Nani.

Nani has had one standout season in 8 years. He gets better in peoples minds with every game Valencia and Young play.

 

[::sonny::]

hmmmm, is it just me or is Sanchez quite overrated...

Agreed, I would take him only on loan

 

[Walrus]

Signing Sanchez is the whole point of improving the squad, His better than all our wide options. The logical choice would be casting out Young and Valencia while bringing in Sanchez and promoting Lawrence/Lingaard.

It's also highly possible Young, Hernandez one of Nani/Valencia, Zaha won't be here next season.

Even if Young, Valencia, Hernandez and Nani all left and we brought Sanchez in whilst promoting Lawrence and Wilson and Zaha we are still left with too many players.

Sanchez is a good player, but for me he isn't so good that he falls into the RVP-type bracket of "if he is available we can't pass up the opportunity to sign him".
We have plenty of options in attack, Van Gaal is known for bringing youth trough as well, and we have Januzaj, Zaha, Wilson and Lawrence all probably in the first team squad next year. I would sooner see those youngsters get the gametime than bringing in another player.

Anyway we could go back and forth all day - I don't think we will sign Sanchez, and I don't think we need to be looking at wingers and strikers unless LVG plans a major revamp of our attack, which I can't see any reason for as it is our midfield and defence which urgently needs reinforcements.

 

[jojojo]

Even if Young, Valencia, Hernandez and Nani all left and we brought Sanchez in whilst promoting Lawrence and Wilson and Zaha we are still left with too many players.

Sanchez is a good player, but for me he isn't so good that he falls into the RVP-type bracket of "if he is available we can't pass up the opportunity to sign him".
We have plenty of options in attack, Van Gaal is known for bringing youth trough as well, and we have Januzaj, Zaha, Wilson and Lawrence all probably in the first team squad next year. I would sooner see those youngsters get the gametime than bringing in another player.

Anyway we could go back and forth all day - I don't think we will sign Sanchez, and I don't think we need to be looking at wingers and strikers unless LVG plans a major revamp of our attack, which I can't see any reason for as it is our midfield and defence which urgently needs reinforcements.

I see where you're going with that, but we've got a pressing need to get back in the CL and get back fast. One season's a blip, two seasons and you really will start to see players get nervous about going to a big club "on the decline." Sanchez is the kind of player who'll help guarantee that top 4 spot.

Sure, the midfield is the priority and if we buy only one player this summer, it shouldn't be Sanchez. But I don't think he'd be our only purchase.

 

[Varun]

I'd even pick Sanchez over Reus.

I'd love Sanchez here but Reus is much better.

 

[LR7]

Hopefully he plays well against Holland in the group stage games (but that has the downside of possibly driving up the price). I'm sure LvG will have scouted him extensively in his preparation anyway.
I'd love him here. He's a real difference maker and is exactly the type of player we should be looking for to play on our flanks. Another season of Ashley Young would be utterly tedious even if he isn't first choice.

 

[itso 7]

Sanchez is the type of winger who, if available, we should pull out every stop towards signing him as he would give our attack a much needed penetration whilst adding a few goals too . There is always a limit to how much we can offer him and Barca but at the very least we should try .

 

[Xaviesta]

Sanchez is the type of winger who, if available, we should pull out every stop towards signing him as he would give our attack a much needed penetration whilst adding a few goals too . There is always a limit to how much we can offer him and Barca but at the very least we should try .

They'll accept £30m I think.

 

[cesc's_mullet]

Some quality wide-players look set to make moves this window.

Any of: Sanchez, Greizmann, Draxler, di Maria and Pedro would do me just fine. Take your pick and get it done Arsene.

 

[RedRover]

Some quality wide-players look set to make moves this window.

Any of: Sanchez, Greizmann, Draxler, di Maria and Pedro would do me just fine. Take your pick and get it done Arsene.

I think Sanchez and Pedro are quality, proper wide players. The modern game is all about pace but those two have a biot more, including an eye for goal. Di Maria is another level up again.

Must say, I've watched Griezmann a few times and not sure. Looks a bit one-dimensional.

 

[Igor Drefljak]

I know it's not likely at all, but imagine signing Di Maria and Sanchez.

I know Sanchez isn't a left sided player, but being right footed, he could have them two cutting in from out wide, just like Van Gaal would want.

Would be a joy to watch

 

[itso 7]

They'll accept £30m I think.

I wouldn't have a problem with paying something in the £25m - £35m range for him and offering him a salary around £120k - £150k . I think his game would thrive here and he would help make us a factor on the counter again, which is essential if we are going to meet our objectives this season .

 

[cesc's_mullet]

I think Sanchez and Pedro are quality, proper wide players. The modern game is all about pace but those two have a biot more, including an eye for goal. Di Maria is another level up again.

Must say, I've watched Griezmann a few times and not sure. Looks a bit one-dimensional.

I've never watched Griezmann beyond the YouTube videos this last week, so I can't really comment on him. But I've read that Wenger has really been bigging him right up during his commentary on all of the recent France games. He even likened him to Pires, though I guess that may have been lost in translation a little as Pires was magnificent and not a speed-merchant who finished off moves.

As for those available if honestly me over the moon with any of them. I think Pedro/Sanchez would me ideal and don't see why a deal can't be brokered if we are interested (and Barca are looking to raise cash).

Di Maria is next level but I don't see him coming to us. If only we got the deal through when he signed for Benfica - I think I've said there was two done deals here in my time to only be wrong with him and Smalling (pretty sure I started a thread on the latter too).

 

[Barney]

I'd even pick Sanchez over Reus.

That's going too far.

 

[mufcwarm92]

Even if Young, Valencia, Hernandez and Nani all left and we brought Sanchez in whilst promoting Lawrence and Wilson and Zaha we are still left with too many players.

Sanchez is a good player, but for me he isn't so good that he falls into the RVP-type bracket of "if he is available we can't pass up the opportunity to sign him".
We have plenty of options in attack, Van Gaal is known for bringing youth trough as well, and we have Januzaj, Zaha, Wilson and Lawrence all probably in the first team squad next year. I would sooner see those youngsters get the gametime than bringing in another player.

Anyway we could go back and forth all day - I don't think we will sign Sanchez, and I don't think we need to be looking at wingers and strikers unless LVG plans a major revamp of our attack, which I can't see any reason for as it is our midfield and defence which urgently needs reinforcements.

Fair points.

Personally though I wouldn't be surprised if three of Young, Nani, Valencia and Zaha left. That leaves us seriously lacking in genuine wide players, but the first three have gone so stale it's daft to expect them to recover their prior form at 28. Zaha just doesn't look good enough for me, though perhaps he could do with a proper loan to give him a proper chance.

Januzaj showed last season that's probably his best position and we will likely see a lot of him out wide, but he's a teenager. Welbeck might play the majority of his games as a wide forward and personally that's where I see him long term. Could go a long way to solving that pace issue if he plays regularly. Kagawa and Mata aren't wide players but both are competent enough on the left/right respectively to fit themselves into the team. But I still feel we need one more proper option out wide, someone with pace and goals from wide. If Sanchez is available you'd struggle to find someone better in that role, and there's no doubt the squad needs a bump on quality.

That leaves us with a decent balance of options, with Lawrence and Lingard as cover - I don't expect them to go straight into the first team but they should get chances in the cups. We might not have Europe this season but in a year's time we are more likely to be doing just that and with a little patience the younger lads will get more game time further down the line.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

That's going too far.

I don't think it is. Alexis Sánchez is a brilliant player but he's not a natural fit at Barcelona so while he's still been great over the past season he's not shown his best form. If he had the freedom that Reus has at Dortmund I think it would be a much closer call - I never really seen Alexis for Udinese but I've watched a few Chile games over the past few years and he's like a completely different player. He moves all over the pitch a lot more than he does at Barcelona where he's forced to stay wide to give them width, and he's shown a better passing ability than I ever thought he was capable of.

Reus might be better but I don't think there would be too much in it if Alexis moved.

 

[Barney]

I don't think it is. Alexis Sánchez is a brilliant player but he's not a natural fit at Barcelona so while he's still been great over the past season he's not shown his best form. If he had the freedom that Reus has at Dortmund I think it would be a much closer call - I never really seen Alexis for Udinese but I've watched a few Chile games over the past few years and he's like a completely different player. He moves all over the pitch a lot more than he does at Barcelona where he's forced to stay wide to give them width, and he's shown a better passing ability than I ever thought he was capable of.

Reus might be better but I don't think there would be too much in it if Alexis moved.

I don't watch a lot of international football so I'll have to take your word for it. Looking at Sanchez at Barcelona/Udinese and Reus at Dortmund and, in my opinion, Reus is the clear winner.

 

[Bob Loblaw]

I don't watch a lot of international football so I'll have to take your word for it. Looking at Sanchez at Barcelona/Udinese and Reus at Dortmund and, in my opinion, Reus is the clear winner.

Yeah definitely, if we're judging them on their club form over the past few seasons then Reus has easily been the better performer.

 

[Brwned]

I'd love Sanchez here but Reus is much better.

At international level Sánchez has been much better and his last season at Udinese was every bit as good as Reus' last season at Monchengladbach. The only difference is Reus made the move to the right club whereas Sánchez made the more ambitious - and in retrospect more foolish - decision to move to the best team in the world. We have no idea how Reus would play in that Barcelona side but we know that he wouldn't be playing with the same freedom and authority, because as good as he is he would have to be a supporting player for Messi. You can't overlook what that does to a player's confidence and ability to express themselves. If you watch his most recent game for Chile you can see the difference, particularly in his passing:

 

[NK86]

I've never watched Griezmann beyond the YouTube videos this last week, so I can't really comment on him. But I've read that Wenger has really been bigging him right up during his commentary on all of the recent France games. He even likened him to Pires, though I guess that may have been lost in translation a little as Pires was magnificent and not a speed-merchant who finished off moves.

As for those available if honestly me over the moon with any of them. I think Pedro/Sanchez would me ideal and don't see why a deal can't be brokered if we are interested (and Barca are looking to raise cash).

Di Maria is next level but I don't see him coming to us. If only we got the deal through when he signed for Benfica - I think I've said there was two done deals here in my time to only be wrong with him and Smalling (pretty sure I started a thread on the latter too).

An Arsenal supporting mate of mine would not stop about how Hazard was always a done deal.

 

[Gambit]

At international level Sánchez has been much better and his last season at Udinese was every bit as good as Reus' last season at Monchengladbach. The only difference is Reus made the move to the right club whereas Sánchez made the more ambitious - and in retrospect more foolish - decision to move to the best team in the world. We have no idea how Reus would play in that Barcelona side but we know that he wouldn't be playing with the same freedom and authority, because as good as he is he would have to be a supporting player for Messi. You can't overlook what that does to a player's confidence and ability to express themselves.

Fully agree. It's why I believe he truly made a mistake going to Barcelona where he had to conform to a system in support of Messi and possession, when he should be allowed the freedom to express his more cavalier side as he does internationally. There's a reason why this year has been his best at Barcelona.