In case anyone didn’t notice Arsenal are preparing to take on Man United at Old Trafford tomorrow in a game that doesn’t really mean much to either side in the sense of trophies, but it is still a last crunch match with Wenger’s biggest rival Jose Mourinho, but the emphasis all seems to be on Alexis Sanchez who finally got his wish to leave Arsenal in January for a very sizeable wage increase.
Alexis was unimpressive in his first months under Mourinho but was very influential in their FA Cup win against Spurs, and Mourinho said he never doubted that the Chilean would come good for United. “He was playing in our competition for years. We all know how good he was, that’s why he was chased by many teams,” Mourinho said.
“I believe that’s why we fought to have him here and I was, since day one, sure that he was the right player. Not just by the typical football qualities but also by his mentality, and we needed that.
“We needed a little bit more experience, we need a little bit more of mental aggressiveness, and I knew that sooner or later, it was coming.”
“I keep saying I don’t like the January market, but it was now or never, so it was now and obviously if we can have good Alexis until the end of the season, better for us.
“We need seven points, we have a final to play… can he help us the way he’s helping us lately? I hope so and I feel so.
“But what I am sure of is that next season, after pre-season, after being comfortable and adapted, he’s going to be great for us.”
Arsene Wenger also said that he thought it would be “strange” to see Sanchez on the other side. “At the time he did not accept our contract offer and the best possible way where we could get something from his departure was to make an exchange for the player of the quality of Mkhitaryan,” Wenger said.
“For him, it was a move to another big club. Overall, both parties had interest to do what happened.
“Of course [it will be little bit strange to face Alexis]. The only thing that he has not changed is the colour, that’s still red.
“It’s strange for me to see him in a different shirt because he had a strong bond with the club and of course he was here for a few years. He did extremely well for us.”
He may have been influential for Arsenal in previous seasons, but this year he was rubbish and contributed to the bad atmosphere in the dressing room before his departure and I think most Gooners were glad to see the back of him in the end. Not only that but we got Henrik Mhkitaryan in exchange who could be just as influential for us as Alexis was. The Armenian has just returned from injury and I am sure he will take the field tomorrow on his return to Old Trafford as Wenger will want to get him match fit for Thursday’s game.
Although Wenger has said he will be rotating tomorrow I think that Mhki and Aubameyang will be given free rein to cause havoc to the United defence. I sincerely hope that Sanchez has one of his headless chicken days that we have seen so often, and that Mhki upstages him. I have a feeling that Mhkitaryan will also be keen to get one over on his former boss for the way he was treated.
Stuff Sanchez and long live Mhki!!!
COYG
Sam P