Why incoming Arsenal signing could be their new Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal came into this window simply needing to sign a new winger. A failure to do so could be devastating for their hopes of winning the Premier League for a consecutive year.

Leandro Trossard has already been sold to Besiktas but just says after, Mikel Arteta and Co were dealt the almighty blow of losing out on Morgan Rogers.

He was the Gunners’ number one target and Arteta really wanted him. Alas, they were unwilling to match Chelsea’s bid of £117m and he is heading to Stamford Bridge instead.

Failing to sign the England international is not the end of the world but it does mean that Arsenal must now respond quickly. Ever since the day Alexis Sanchez left the Emirates Stadium, it has felt like Arsenal have lacked an elite quality left winger. Rogers could have been that.

Why Arsenal have struggled since Alexis Sanchez’s departure

The year is 2018, the month is January. Alexis has taken the decision to leave Arsenal and sign for Manchester United. He took the Robin van Persie route to win more trophies.

However, for the Chilean, it did not end in Premier League glory like it did for RVP, far from it.

It is well documented that Sanchez regrets his decision to move to Old Trafford. At Arsenal, he was a hero and he is arguably the best left winger they have ever had during the Emirates era.

While the electrifying forward did also play as a centre-forward, notably scoring as many as 30 goals in 2016/17, he was captivating on the flanks as well.

During his time in N5, the former Barcelona man scored 35 goals and supplied 19 assists in 81 outings on the left of Arsene Wenger’s attack.

Since then, however, they have not had anyone capable of producing similar numbers. In Trossard, they found a consistent figure, someone who netted 17 times in 2023/24. In Gabriel Martinelli they have an explosive player but he’s never been a prolific goalscorer.

The rest of the names make for rather grim reading. Since 2018, Arsenal supporters have seen the likes of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Alex Iwobi, Nicolas Pepe, Willian, Raheem Sterling and Noni Madueke all have spells on the left.

Judging by that, it shouldn’t be too difficult to find an upgrade. Well, it just so happens this summer they could finally find their new Alexis.

Arsenal close in on signing their new Sanchez

Having missed out on Rogers, it is important that Andrea Berta reacts quickly and assertively. Bradley Barcola has been earmarked as one exciting alternative. RB Leipzig wonderkid Yan Diomande is another target touted.

Yet, neither of those deals are remotely close. A deal for Christos Tzolis, however, is moving in the right direction.

Arsenal were first linked with a move for the Club Brugge winger over a month ago but Arsenal needed to sell first and after letting Trossard go, they have accelerated a move for a player who is actually rather similar not just to the Belgian but also the aforementioned Alexis.

Last week it was revealed that a fee of £35m had been agreed to take the Greek forward to the Premier League and a move is now nearly done. Greek journalist Dimitris Manakos revealed on social media on Monday that Tzolis is flying to London and will be in the English capital on Tuesday. He should officially become an Arsenal player on Wednesday.

Perhaps understandably, this is not a move that has excited supporters too much. After winning the title, there were huge expectations for what could be achieved in this transfer window. A couple of elite forward players should have been on their way. Tzolis is not in that bracket but fear not, there are several weeks of the window left in which Arsenal could sign another winger.

Fear not too because Tzolis is such a captivating little wide player. He’s cut from the same cloth as Sanchez. He is not quite as explosive but his diminutive figure and ability to manipulate the ball in tight spaces and between the lines evokes memories of the Chilean.

His running style is also rather similar, capable of beating his marker with quick yet short bursts of pace. He’s so good at carrying the ball and he’s rather prolific too.

Albeit, Tzolis has been producing the majority of his numbers in the top-flight of Belgian football, the Club Brugge star scored a whopping 22 goals and assisted 29 strikes in 52 appearances last season.

For his price tag, you will not find many better wingers available this summer. It’s a clever move by Arsenal and it could well be a deal that puts to bed their curse on the left side of the attack.

It feels like that throughout his whole tenure, Arteta has been searching for a consistent left winger. It remains to be seen whether Tzolis is that man but he certainly looks like an exciting prospect. He outscored and outassisted everyone at Arsenal in 2025/26.