Arsenal legend Freddie Ljungberg believes reuniting Chile stars Alexis Sanchez and Arturo Vidal at the Emirates next term could help transform the Gunners into title winners.
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Winger Sanchez was Arsenal’s player of the year after a superb first season in North London, while the club have long been linked with a move for his La Roja team-mate Vidal.
Speculation over the 28-year-old Juventus midfielder’s future has intensified in the past 48 hours with reports in Italy suggesting the Bianconeri have agreed to sell him to unnamed European club.
It is claimed the deal will be announced once the Copa Americahas finished where both Sanchez and Vidal are on duty for the hosts and face a semi-final against Peru tomorrow.
Ljungberg, for one, will hope his old club Arsenal are at the front of the queue, with him believing the fiery midfielder can add much needed bite to their midfield.
“I think the players who are already there are great, but for me I want to see speed,” Ljungberg told Sport360° in Gothenburg.
Alexis Sanchez is convincing Chile teammate Arturo Vidal to complete a £21.3m move to Arsenal this summer. (Source: Independent)
— Arsenal News (@__arsenal_news_) June 26, 2015
“There were some rumours about Vidal, a great player, and he gets fuming if he loses the ball, so I like that. That kind of player would be great for the club.
“Look at Sanchez. After the World Cup in South Africa I said I wanted us to buy him, when he was at Udinese.
“He is quality but he also works hard as well. He has speed. When he loses the ball he still fights for it and that’s what I like to see.”
Arsenal have not been champions of England since Ljungberg was at the club, with their last crown coming in 2003/04 when the Swede was part of ‘the Invincibles’ team who went an entire campaign unbeaten.
That side boasted talents like Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires and Patrick Vieira, and Ljungberg feels they need similar quality if they are going to bridge the gap to Chelsea.
Congrats on winning Volvo Ocean race today boys and thanks for letting me sail with… https://t.co/xNw81eslf7
— Freddie Ljungberg (@freddie) June 27, 2015
The Gunners enjoyed a decent Premier League campaign in 2014/15, eventually finishing third behind the Blues and runners-up Manchester City, but Ljungberg is confident they are on the right path.
“I hope they can challenge for the Premier League title,” said the 38-year-old, who now works as an ambassador for the Gunners.
“Now I feel like they started again. They bought Sanchez, who I think is an amazing player, they bought (Mesut) Ozil the year before that and splashed the cash a little bit.
“I think in one or two years we’ll have a squad that’s going to compete with anyone. With one or two signings here and there, we can get a stronger squad. We’re getting there and I’m really looking forward to the next couple of years.
“If we go the way we’ve been going then we’ll compete on the same level (with the likes of Chelsea and Manchester City).”
