Arsenal Transfer News: Latest on Alexis Sanchez, Henrikh Mkhitaryan Rumours

Arsenal will reportedly stage showdown talks with Alexis Sanchez about his future, with no progress made on a new contract. 

According to John Cross of the Daily Mirror, the Chile international is “frustrated,” meaning manager Arsene Wenger is “facing a major dilemma over whether to cash in” on the player. Cross stated “lengthy talks” have been held about a new £160,000-a-week deal for Sanchez, although nothing has been finalised; now Arsenal are said to want clarity on his commitment to the cause.

“Sanchez stormed out of the Emirates stadium after being subbed against Norwich last month—he left even before the players had come back in to the dressing room at the end of the game,” added Cross. “The 27-year-old also did not go over to the away fans at the end of Sunday's draw with Manchester City.”

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Bayern Munich and Juventus are noted as potential suitors for the forward by Cross.

The former Barcelona man has two years left on his contract with the club, having penned a four-year deal in the summer of 2014. These numbers from OptaJoe show just how crucial he’s been to the cause since joining:

So it’s little surprise, according to Cross, Arsenal would prefer to keep the player at the club, something which is evident by the contract offer on the table. However, rumblings about a potential move before the transfer window has even opened are not good signs.

Bayern and Juventus would be attractive propositions, too. The former have already shown their intentions for next term with the statement signings of Renato Sanches and Mats Hummels on Tuesday, per BBC Sport, while Juve are a team with a bright future under the guidance of Massimiliano Allegri.

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The Gunners, meanwhile, continue to toil in pursuit of the league title. As the Match of the Day Twitter feed noted here, plenty of the natives are restless:

So it'd be understandable for Sanchez to be feeling impatient. If the player was to go, Borussia Dortmund man Henrikh Mkhitaryan would reportedly be on Arsenal’s radar, per Cross.

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After a difficult 2014-15, the Armenia international has flourished at the Westfalenstadion this season. Manager Thomas Tuchel has brought the best out of the playmaker, with goals and assists coming on a consistent basis in the iconic black and yellow strip.

Here is a look at why Arsenal might consider Mkhitaryan as the right man to potentially replace Sanchez:

While both hugely effective, they’re different kinds of footballers. Sanchez is a dynamic presence who excels drifting off the left flank into central areas and firing shots at goal. By contrast, Mkhitaryan is a little more refined in his playing style and a calm finisher. He is a player whose game centres around intelligent passing and tight control.

These numbers, taken from league matches this season, sum up the stylistic contrasts between the two players:

	Mkhitaryan	Sanchez
Apps (Sub)	28 (3)	27 (2)
Goals	11	13
Assists	15	4
Shots per game	2.6	3.5
Key passes per game	2.7	2
Dribbles per game	2.6	3.3
Tackles per game	1.7	1.6

While the BVB star would be a fine signing for Arsenal, he wouldn’t be the right replacement for Sanchez. The Gunners have plenty of players who are of a similar style to Mkhitaryan—most notably Mesut Ozil and Santi Cazorla—but the Chile international has brought a refreshing, direct edge to their attack.

In terms of work rate, defensive contribution and penchant for scoring big goals, Sanchez is indispensable for the Gunners. Of course, if he does want to leave, the club face a significant quandary this summer. Decision-makers at the Emirates should be doing all they can to get this wonderful footballer to stick around, though.