Arsenal fans got a grim look at what the post-Alexis Sanchez era could look like, this afternoon, as the Gunners surrendered a 1-0 lead to slump to a 2-1 defeat away at Bournemouth.
The Chilean, who could be set for an imminent move to Manchester United, was left out of Arsenal's trip to the south coast by Wenger and was sorely missed as the Gunners' imploded after Hector Bellerin opened the scoring in the first half.
Two goals in four minutes from Callum Wilson and then Jordon Ibe handed the Cherries all three points and their first ever victory over Arsenal, leaving Wenger's team in sixth place, five points outside the top four.
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After falling behind, Arsenal looked bereft of ideas, with Mesut Ozil also missing - another player who could soon be departing the Emirates Stadium with his contract expiring at the end of the season. Danny Welbeck, Alex Iwobi and record signing Alexandre Lacazette failing to provide the spark to drag the Gunners back into the game.
And, most worryingly for Arsenal fans was the stat that emerged once the final whistle was blown at the Vitality Stadium this afternoon.
Arsenal have lost the last three Premier League games that Alexis Sanchez hasn't appeared in.
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Rumours are rife that Sanchez will join Manchester United in the coming days in either a £35 million deal or a part exchange deal involving United's Armenian playmaker Henrikh Mkhitaryan. Or the Chilean forward may still manage to engineer a January move to City, with the 28-year-old determined to leave the Emirates Stadium this month rather than in the summer.
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