Arsenal Skipper Wants ‘X-Factor’ Alexis Sanchez To Stay, But He Has A Warning For Him

By The Editor
on 31st July 2017

Per Mertesacker hoping to see Alexis Sanchez stay…

Arsenal skipper Per Mertesacker has echoed the sentiment from fans that he’s desperate for Alexis Sanchez to stay but warned the Chilean that the focus cannot be on one player.

Speaking after our loss to Sevilla in the Emirates Cup on Sunday, Mertesacker labelled Alexis as our “X-factor” player and cited the numbers he produced last season as the reason why he must remain in the squad.

Alexis scored 30 goals in all competitions last season, as well as laying on 16 assists for his teammates, proving to be one of the most efficient players in Europe’s top five leagues.

He’s refused to sign an extension to his contract which ends in less than 12 months, although Arsene Wenger hasn’t ruled out an agreement being reached at some point during next season.

The boss has remained steadfast in his belief that Alexis will remain an Arsenal player beyond this summer, and Mertesacker is certainly hopeful of that outcome.

“We cannot concentrate just on one player, it doesn’t work,” Mertesacker told reporters in the mixed zone.

“Everyone wants him to stay, he’s a player with the X-factor. In the last season, he has played some incredible games and was our dominant goalscorer.

“But still, we’re not focusing as much on that. It’s another season and we have new signings that we’re trying to focus on.”

Alexis is due to return to pre-season this week, and one hopes that it will run smoothly with many anxious at the possibility of the Chilean acting up.

Check out Mertesacker’s take on the situation in the video above.