EPL: Alexis is Henry MK II - Wenger
It will be fascinating to see where Arsene Wenger
ultimately decides to field Alexis Sanchez. There's a
lot of Thierry Henry's move from Juventus in the
deal for the Chilean. At Juve, Henry was pushed out
wide and viewed essentially as a winger. It wasn't
until he arrived at Arsenal and came under
Wenger's guidance that his striker instincts were
allowed to develop and succeed. Could we see the
same with Alexis? It's ridiculous for the naysayers
to claim he was 'inconsistent' at Barcelona. In the
era of Lionel Messi , has there been any attacking
player who has been allowed to outshine the
Argentine? Everything is built around him, so
whether it's Henry, David Villa or Zlatan Ibrahimovic
, they've all been forced to take a backseat. Alexis
was no different. But with Arsenal, under Wenger,
we're sure to see this wonderful talent fulfil his
potential. Just as it took Yaya Toure to get away
from the Barca system before showing the world
how good he was at Manchester City Alexis has had
to do the same.
SO MUCH EARLY MOMENTUM FOR GOONERS
After Alexis Sanchez, the word is Sami Khedira is
now on the brink of leaving Real Madrid for Arsenal.
Two massive signings, plus the exuberance running
through the veins of the club's World Cup winners,
it's a struggle to see how Arsenal cannot but avoid
their traditional slow season start. And if they do get
off to a flyer, on this wave of optimism, can
Arsene Wenger's team be stopped?
MORE CHILEANS TO FOLLOW ALEXIS
Busy week for Chile's super agent Fernando
Felicevich. Last week, he oversaw Alexis Sanchez's
move from Barcelona to Arsenal and also former
Real Sociedad goalkeeper Claudio Bravo's switch to
the Nou Camp. But he still has plenty of business on
in the UK. He needs to find a new club for
Cardiff City midfielder Gary Medel, hold talks with
Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal about
Angelo Henriquez's situation and there's also
Mauricio Isla's future to consider. Felicevich has
been gradually expanding his empire into England
and the next client due to arrive is Juventus wing-
back Isla. Newcastle United, Liverpool and the
Gunners have all been mentioned, but United have
also asked both Felicevich and Juve about Isla's
situation. Sir Alex Ferguson had been aware of Isla
since he was snapped up by Udinese as an 18
year-old from Universidad Católica and Van Gaal
will arrive at Carrington on Wednesday with a
detailed dossier on the Chilean in his desk drawer.
MAN UTD TO LOSE ANOTHER TOP KID?
There's confidence at Manchester United that they
will secure Will Keane to a new contract. But with no
deal signed since last week's news, there remains
the risk of United letting slip yet another young
talent through their hands. A bigger spotlight should
be shone on United's management of their young
players. Paul Scholes hinted at the tension when
highlighting Jesse Lingard's treatment in contrast to
Adnan Januzaj. Paul Pogba , Ravel Morrison and
Mats Daehli have all proved top-flight players since
leaving United. Jack Barmby was shown the door at
the end of last season and was immediately
snapped up by Leicester City. Now Keane's contract
is in the balance. United fans, consider the £28
million now in Athletic Bilbao's coffers for Ander
Herrera, when for the coming season there so
easily could've been a midfield five of Lingard,
Morrison, Pogba, Daehli and Januzaj.
CLAYTON DESERVES SUNDERLAND CHANCE
Great to see Gus Poyet give Max Clayton a chance
at Sunderland . Off contract at Crewe Alexandra, it's
no surprise the striker has been handed a Premier
League opportunity. Clayton was no first-choice at
Crewe under Steve Davis, but at 19 he's still
growing and his ability is not in question. Only a
couple of years ago, Clayton was playing with
Liverpool ace Raheem Sterling for England U17s.
Also in that squad was former Crewe teammates
Nick Powell , now of Manchester United, Dan
Trickett-Smith, now with Liverpool , and Ben Garrett.
Not bad for an academy deemed below A-class
standard by the game's authorities...
KOEMAN MUST CHOOSE WISELY NEW SAINTS
SKIPPER
Ronald Koeman must choose well when deciding
upon Southampton 's next club captain. The
Dutchman, at his unveiling last week, suggested he
could name Adam Lallana 's successor as early as
this week. You hope Les Reed, the club's football
director, will have made clear to Koeman that being
captain of a Premier League club carries a lot more
responsibility compared with the same role on the
continent. The problem is there's no obvious
candidate, with the squad undergoing so much
change. Koeman pulled aside Jose Fonte and
Steven Davis upon arriving at St Mary's to pass
onto the rest of the squad his early thoughts. And
after four years with the club, through the lows and
now the highs, Fonte would be a good choice.
WHERE ARE THE GEORDIES AT TOON?
The ink on the contract is hardly dry, yet
Siem de Jong is now Newcastle United's vice-
captain. If there's one team that should boast a
local core, it must be Newcastle United. But for his
leadership group, Alan Pardew has an Argentine as
club captain ( Fabricio Coloccini ) and an Ivorian
(Cheick Tiote) and newly-signed Dutchman as his
lieutenants. The lack of Geordie candidates for
leadership roles must ring alarm bells at St James'
Park. Shola Ameobi is gone and Steven Taylor's
status remains shaky. Like De Jong, Remy
Cabella's is a positive signing. But when you see
the impact Rickie Lambert's arrival has made at
Liverpool, it's sad to see a Newcastle team without
one first-choice player boasting a passport to the
Geordie nation. Even worse, the club - in
Jack Colback - has had to go to Sunderland to find
one!
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