- Arsenal take on Bournemouth on Sunday hoping to end four-game winless streak
- Gunners could be without Alexis Sanchez, as per report
- Chilean international heavily linked with an exit from the club this month
- READ MORE: Arsenal to launch £35m bid this week, second January signing edges closer
As speculation mounts over his future at Arsenal, it’s reported that Alexis Sanchez could be left out of the squad to face Bournemouth on Sunday.
The Chilean international has been heavily linked with an exit from the Emirates this month, as noted by The Mirror, with significant doubts over his future with the Gunners.
It stems from the fact that his contract is set to expire at the end of the season, at which point he’ll be available on a free transfer, although Arsenal of course have the option of cashing in this month to avoid losing him for nothing.
The problem with that, as noted in the report above, is that there are three Premier League rivals linked with signing the 29-year-old, and in an ideal world Arsene Wenger won’t want to see him stay in England and line up against them in the near future.
Nevertheless, reports would suggest that is exactly what’s going to happen, while The Sun claim that Sanchez won’t be included in the Arsenal squad to face Bournemouth this weekend.
Having been left on the bench against Chelsea in the League Cup in midweek, this will take it a step further and be the biggest hint to date that Sanchez is set to leave, while it could raise the question as to whether he may well have played his last game for the north London giants.
Arsenal are undoubtedly a weaker side without an in-form Sanchez leading their charge, but with just eight goals and four assists in 22 appearances so far this season, he’s been far from his best form and his future has arguably been an unwanted distraction for many concerned.