Arsenal's Demolition of Lyon Shows They Should Cope Without Alexis Sanchez

Chile’s prolonged participation in the Copa America means that Arsenal must start next season without Alexis Sanchez. In their six-goal demolition of Lyon in the Emirates Cup, the Gunners showed they may be able to manage without last season’s top goalscorer.

There’s not one single player who is able to replicate Alexis’ colossal contribution. However, what the Lyon match demonstrated was that Arsenal’s collective game can overcome the loss of one key player.

Arsene Wenger’s team had six different goalscorers against the French outfit, and the Gunners boss stressed to Arsenal.com that it is the varied threat Arsenal pose that makes them so strong:

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Football is subtle. It’s not mathematics. There’s a logic in the game that means that you create chances when all of your quality players play for each other. Every game is different. I still say that after the game tonight we are open-minded but we are not in a desperate need, because we were missing Welbeck and Alexis who are big players. We did not have Wilshere who is a creative player as well. That means we have a good squad.

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It’s easy to understand why he sounds excited. Arsenal were fantastic against Lyon, pulling their opposition apart with their intricate attacking play. Granted, the Emirates Cup fixtures represent little more than glamorous friendlies, but there’s no denying the sizzling chemistry Wenger’s men showcased against the Ligue 1 runners-up. The gap between the two teams looked every bit as great as when the Gunners faced the Singapore Select XI a matter of days ago.

David Rogers/Getty Images

As much as Arsenal’s performance was characterised by collaborative thinking, there were some standout individuals. Wenger will have been hugely encouraged by Mesut Ozil’s imperious display. The club’s record signing capped a masterful showing with an ingenious pass to create Aaron Ramsey’s goal, before following up with an unusually confident finish for a strike of his own.

That’s the second time in preseason that Ozil has dispatched a goal with real conviction. Perhaps his growing confidence will enable him to appear on the scoresheet more regularly.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is another whose performance will have given Wenger cause for encouragement. In Alexis’ absence, Arsenal need a wide man with penetrative dribbling power, and the Ox could be the man to provide it.

Having missed most of the back end of last season with yet another injury, Oxlade-Chamberlain seems to be reaping the benefits of a full preseason. The way he took his goal was significant too: The England man knows he must be more prolific if he is to nail down a regular place in the side.

David Rogers/Getty Images

Overall, this match was an impressive illustration of the depth of attacking quality at Wenger’s disposal. The Arsenal fans are understandably eager for new arrivals, but there’s no immediate need for additions unless they offer an upgrade in quality.

Wenger is likely to name an entirely different XI for the second Emirates Cup game with Wolfsburg, and you wouldn’t bet against Arsenal looking every bit as dangerous. If they can carry this lethal form into the season, Alexis’ absence will barely be felt.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.