The worst-kept secret of the January transfer window is no more. On Monday afternoon, it was finally confirmed that Alexis Sanchez has joined Manchester United from Arsenal and Henrikh Mkhitaryan has moved in the opposite direction.
Much of the focus has inevitably been on the Chilean's transfer to Old Trafford, but perhaps the more interesting part of the deal concerns Mkhitaryan. Arsenal have done well to land the Armenia international given they could easily have lost Sanchez for nothing in the summer, particularly as the former Borussia Dortmund schemer still had two and a half years left to run on his United contract.
There is no doubt Mkhitaryan has underwhelmed during his time in the Premier League up to now. There have been flashes of quality and the 29-year-old made a fantastic start to the current campaign, while 12 goals and six assists in 54 Premier League and European appearances (only 39 of which were starts) are far from disastrous topline figures. In the end, though, Mkhitaryan did not do enough to convince Jose Mourinho that he should remain a part of the Portuguese's first-team plans.
It would be wrong, however, to assert that Mkhitaryan’s struggles at Old Trafford mean he is not cut out for the Premier League; just because he did not fit Mourinho’s system at United does not automatically preclude him from making a more positive impression under Arsene Wenger at the Emirates Stadium. It is still not clear whether Arsenal intend to use him in such a way, but a potential attacking trident of Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Mkhitaryan – perhaps with a return to a 3-4-2-1 formation – is undoubtedly exciting. Alternatively, Wenger could stick with a four-man backline and deploy Mkhitaryan as an inverted wide man and Ozil as a No.10.
It is by no means certain that Aubameyang will move to north London before the end of the month, although Arsenal appear confident in their chances of landing the Gabon international. He and Mkhitaryan were devastating as part of the same Borussia Dortmund forward line in 2015/16; Aubameyang netted league 25 goals and provided five assists, while Mkhitaryan scored 11 and set up 15 more.
As such statistics demonstrate, the Armenian at his best is both a creator and converter of chances. He’s technically gifted and dynamic, and is able to contribute in transition as well as phases of established possession. Mkhitaryan has something to prove after his United travails, and Arsenal could be the perfect place for him to do exactly that.
