Alexis Sánchez needed Arsenal switch, claims Man United target

Arturo Vidal believes Alexis Sánchez needed a change after the Chilean completed his switch to Arsenal on Thursday.

The 25-year-old penned a long-term contract with the Gunners after the north London side struck a reported £35 deal with Barcelona to sign the forward.

He needed to take a step like this and at Arsenal he will be able to do things very well

Arturo Vidal

Sánchez, who helped Chile reach the World Cup quarter-finals, scored 19 goals and made 10 assists in 34 La Liga appearances, coming off the bench seven times.

And Vidal, who could soon follow his compatriot to the Premier League amid reported interest from Manchester United, congratulated Sánchez on the move.

“I am happy for him, he needed to take a step like this and at Arsenal he will be able to do things very well,” Vidal told La Tercera.

On Friday, Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta backed Sánchez to add some much-needed pace and firepower to Arsenal’s attack next season.

“He’s the type of player we were looking for,” said Arteta.

“At some stage [last season] we didn’t have that pace up front with the injuries we had, but this year we will. We will be a threat in behind teams and he’ll give us another option.

“He’s a character, too. He’s a fighter and very ambitious. I think he’s the type of player that the Arsenal fans will really like.

“It is a very good statement to show where we are going. I think we are going in the right direction, the club is ambitious, the directors are ambitious and we are going to fight for big aims.”