With talk swirling over Alexis Sanchez’s new contract – or lack thereof – Arsenal fans are getting a little anxious.

We pointed out recently that, despite the headlines circulating linking the Chilean with a move to Manchester City, we shouldn’t be panicking just yet. Contract negotiations are hardly ever straight forward and just because we haven’t heard as much as we have about Mesut Ozil’s, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re going badly.

If the talks are ongoing then nothing has been taken off the table yet. This is good.

But as Lee said, if it gets to summer and there’s no new contract, THEN we can start to worry.

And worry we shall because what on earth do we do without Alexis Sanchez?

Since signing for Arsenal from Barcelona in 2014 for a reported £35m, the Chilean has scored 50 goals in 107 appearances in all competitions. He’s also managed 30 assists, which is just staggering. To get stats like that out of a player who wasn’t even fully fit when he returned from the Copa America is unreal.

Even when Alexis isn’t directly contributing to goals, he’s helping the team. The only time I’ve seen his work-ethic dip is when he’s clearly not been fully fit and even then his work-ethic is still far above most players in our squad.

The man never wants to rest, even if that sometimes means risking himself to help the team and, in term, ending up getting injured.

Along with Mesut Ozil, the 27-year-old brings up the level of the entire XI on the pitch. He’s not just good; he makes other players better.

From another perspective, what sort of message does selling arguably our best player send across? We’re supposed to be past those times. We don’t need the money anymore so there’s no reason unless he forces his way out of the club.

I’m sure selling him is entirely preventable and I’m also fairly certain that the club won’t let him go without one heck of a fight.

There’s no way we can sell Alexis because what he brings to our team is priceless.