Fansided

5 replacements for Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez

By Andrew Bernucca

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 3, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 03: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal looks on during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Chelsea at Emirates Stadium on January 3, 2018 in London, England. (Photo by Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 5
Next
MALAGA, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 23: Inaki Williams of Athletic Club celebrates after scoring with Iker Muniain of Athletic Club the La Liga match between Malaga and Athletic Club at Estadio La Rosaleda on September 23, 2017 in Malaga, . (Photo by Aitor Alcalde Colomer/Getty Images)
MALAGA, SPAIN – SEPTEMBER 23: Inaki Williams of Athletic Club celebrates after scoring with Iker Muniain of Athletic Club the La Liga match between Malaga and Athletic Club at Estadio La Rosaleda on September 23, 2017 in Malaga, . (Photo by Aitor Alcalde Colomer/Getty Images) /

Iker Muniain or Inaki Williams, Athletic Bilbao

This comes down to many variables. Do Arsenal choose this route? Which window is Sanchez leaving in? If it’s in this window, are they desperate to replace him now?

Muniain and Williams are Athletic Bilbao’s wide attacking midfielders. Williams primarily plays on the right, and Muniain primarily on the left.

Williams is the younger of the two at 23 years old. He’s quick, lethal in one-on-ones and has performed well for Bilbao this season, notching three goals and three assists for the club in 14 starts. He’s currently valued at €25 million, according to Transfermarkt, but his strong performances this season mean that price tag is definitely higher.

Muniain is 25 years old and definitely the better player. Clubs throughout Europe have expressed interest in him before, but injury issues have curtailed a lot of it. At the moment, the Spaniard is on the sidelines with a torn right ACL that he suffered in a Europa League match back in September. About three years ago, he tore his left ACL.

Next: Ranking every Premier League season

Injury issues are something that should turn Arsenal off given their track record, but Muniain had been playing really well up until the injury, notching a goal and two assists in four appearances before it. Last season, Muniain scored seven goals and got two assists in 28 appearances for Bilbao.

He would certainly be able to help replace Sanchez’s creativity and depending on how he recovers from this injury, maybe the explosiveness as well.

These two might not be the stars Wenger imagined as Sanchez replacements, but with the club on the outside looking in at the Champions League, they may be who he ends up with.

Home/Premier League