Michael Owen raves about 28-year-old Arsenal star: He’d walk into any team
Michael Owen discusses Alexis Sanchez's role at Arsenal and why he expects him to leave the club
Michael Owen has admitted that he would be “astonished” if Alexis Sanchez remained as an Arsenal player next season.
The Chile international has earned a reputation as one of the Premier League’s top attacking talents since his arrival at The Emirates back in the summer of 2014 from Barcelona.
Sanchez was heavily linked with a transfer away from Arsenal last summer but a move failed to materialise as the Gunners opted to keep hold of their talisman, despite him being in the final year of his contract.
The 28-year-old was in fine form on Sunday as he was named as the man of the match during Arsenal’s 2-0 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion at The Emirates.
Former Liverpool striker Owen is a huge admirer of Sanchez but is fully expecting him to leave the north London club either in January or in the summer transfer window.
Speaking to BT Sport after Sunday’s game, Owen said: “He jumps into any Premier League team. He’d walk into any team. He is that good.
“I’d be astonished if we see him in an Arsenal shirt next season. And why wouldn’t he want to leave?
“That quality of player not playing regularly in the Champions League and challenging for the title… you can understand it in a way, but it’s going to leave such a huge hole for Arsenal to fill and it doesn’t bear thinking about at the moment.”
Sanchez will be expecting to feature for Arsenal when the Gunners return to Premier League action after the international break with a trip to Vicarage Road to take on Watford.
The north London side are currently fifth in the table and six points behind leaders Manchester City after seven games of the new season.
