Charlie Nicholas thinks Arsene Wenger should sell and replace Alexis Sanchez, as he says it’s obvious the Chilean doesn’t want to stay with the Gunners.

Nicholas told Sky Sports“I just want to see [Alexis Sanchez] leave the club now as he clearly doesn’t want to be there and I’d rather see Wenger get what he can for him and find a replacement.”

Alexis’ finally seems to have turned his form around in recent matches, at least in the goal-scoring sense. The 29-year-old scored just five goals in his first 17 matches of the season, way off his best for the club. But in the last three games, he’s scored three, and he was heavily involved in another at the weekend.

alexis west brom
WEST BROMWICH, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 31: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal reacts during the Premier League match between West Bromwich Albion and Arsenal at The Hawthorns on December 31, 2017 in West Bromwich, England. (Photo by Michael Steele/Getty Images)

The Premier League gave the deflected free-kick as a James McClean own goal, but the former Barcelona man forced the mistake. However, three games right before the transfer window opens aren’t enough to convince Nicholas things have changed.

The most likely explanation for the other 17 games is that Alexis lacked motivation, in my opinion. Now he has that back, because he thinks Arsenal might let him leave. But if the window closes again, maybe his form goes back to how it was in September and October.

It’s all speculation, of course. Maybe Alexis’ was just going through a difficult period physically after his extended holiday. Perhaps he just needed to get his confidence back. Keeping him does seem like a big gamble nevertheless.