Alexis Sanchez leaving Arsenal will not hurt fans as much as when Robin Van Persie joined Manchester United, insists Arsene Wenger
Chilean striker is is on the verge of following a host of Arsenal players to Manchester but Wenger insists his departure will not hurt as much as Robin Van Persie's move to Old Trafford in 2012
ARSENE WENGER insists Alexis Sanchez will not be as big a loss to Arsenal as Robin Van Persie.
The Gunners boss is resigned to losing his main man to Manchester United for the second time in six years following the Dutchman’s exit in 2012.
It will be seen as another huge blow for the Gunners faithful who have watched on as their star players continue to walk out of the Emirates.
But Wenger is adamant Arsenal fans will quickly move on from the Chilean.
He told the: “Our fans know Alexis will not extend, they have accepted that idea and the fact it will not be one-way traffic.
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“It will be other-way traffic as well and that makes the whole thing a bit smoother, maybe a bit less disappointing.
"We lose a player, yes, but we could gain another player, I think one would replace the other."
Wenger added: “We took Van Persie when he played in the reserve team at Feyenoord.
"We made a long work with him, when you get them there and, after they leave, that is the most painful.”
The deal United have agreed with the 29-year-old will make Sanchez the highest earner in Premier League history, trousering £27million-a-year with a whopping £20m signing-on-fee.
Those eye watering numbers are on another planet to what is on offer in North London and Wenger would not be surprised to see a £1m-a-week player in the future.
Wenger continued: “You cannot rule anything out.
“We arrive to a level where the money for players who are free is so big, and the transfers so big, that the players think ‘It’s better I go to the end of my contract'."
Wenger's side face Crystal Palace at home tomorrow at 3pm.