Experts' take on the Alexis Sanchez – Henrikh Mkhitaryan swap deal

Alexis Sanchez has joined Manchester United in a straight swap deal that involved Henrikh Mkhitaryan going the other way - and with clubs feeling that they've got the better of the deal, Sportskeeda's in-house team weigh in on one of modern football's most dramatic transfer sagas

Sripad @falsewinger

Manchester United are the clear winners in this deal at the moment. They wanted a world-class player who can dominate on the wings and they have got him for free! They have parted ways with a player who was not even in the squad for the majority of the games this season.

Arsenal, on the other hand, have just made things difficult for themselves right now. Mkhitaryan is a proper central attacking midfielder – a position in which Ozil plays right now. The German will not be a happy man if Wenger opts to start the new signing over him in any of the games.

And that will only lead to Özil rejecting the new contract. The signing itself will be enough to raise the doubt in his mind about staying beyond this season. It's all but certain that he will wait until the very end before deciding if he has to put pen to the paper.

This is a typical thing what most people do in FIFA Career mode. And Jose Mourinho has managed to replicate it in real life. Over the long run, there is a chance of Mkhitaryan having more impact at Arenal than what Sanchez might have at United but that, right now, has a 5% probability, nothing more.

Anirudh Menon @animenon19

By the time Manchester United had announced Alexis Sanchez (with a smashing video, it has to be said) everyone knew he'd be joining - but that didn't dim the excitement surrounding the announcement. And that alone tells you what this signing means to most United fans.

An undoubted match-winner at his absolute peak, this is a marquee signing, unlike most others that have come-and-gone in the post-Fergie era and that more than anything is what's filled the club, and the fans with such optimism.

Pinching Sanchez from under City's nose has also given Ed Woodward the kind of credibility he was desperately seeking - while giving Jose Mourinho the perfect Jose Mourinho forward. What's not to like if you are United?

Jose Mourinho will be thrilled with the exchange

As for Arsenal, Henrikh Mkhitaryan was an unexpected bonus - and as gloriously talented as the Armenian playmaker is, Arsene Wenger will have an interesting conundrum on his hands... considering that Mkhitaryan and the one remaining world-class superstar in Mesut Ozil love playing in the same kind of areas.

If Wenger can iron out the infuriating inconsistency that plagued the Armenian's time at Old Trafford (and anyone who saw United last season, and this, will know he got plenty of time on the pitch to try and do so), he'll walk away, if not completely happy, with a modicum of satisfaction from the whole shebang.

Aakanksh Sanketh @AakankshS

An exciting bit of business for both teams. Arsenal needed someone who wanted to be there. Henrikh Mkhitaryan needed a team that wanted his presence. Match.

Alexis Sanchez wanted to play UEFA Championship football, while also picking up a heavier paycheck. Manchester United wanted a marquee attacking signing who could add excessive bite to an already razor-sharp attack. Match.

Clearly, this deal seems to suit all 4 parties and gives fans of both clubs something to look forward to in the second half of the season, considering that neither fan-following can be too optimistic about a title challenge.

It sure feels good to know that in this day and age, not every deal needs to be fuelled by exorbitant price tags, and that just logic and compliance can sometimes be enough to pull off a transfer.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan and Alexis Sanchez are wonderfully talented stars who will bring their own set of skills and advantages to both teams' respective tables, and it's undeniably going to be exciting to watch them try and make waves in their new homes.

Amit @DerStoic

A swap deal was the least everyone expected a few weeks ago, but it's perhaps the best outcome for everyone involved. At this point in time, Manchester United have the upper hand because, well, Alexis Sanchez has been in better form and with better players around him, that United attack could look irresistible.

With slightly less than half the season remaining, Jose Mourinho will have a good headache. Having said that, he has enough time on his hands to integrate Sanchez into the starting XI and potentially challenge Manchester City next season if not in the coming months. Well done with the tweet for announcing Sanchez by the way, looked classy (coming from a Liverpool fan).

As for Arsenal, they've got a pretty good player themselves. Contrary to popular opinion, Mkhitaryan can play on the left. It's just that Mourinho's reactive approach hasn't worked well for him.

Henrikh Mkhitaryan could link up wonderfully with Mesut Ozil(L) and Jack Wilshere(R)

He's played in teams -- Shakhtar Donetsk and Borussia Dortmund -- known for the gung-ho and proactive style of play, so perhaps a move to Arsenal is what he needed. Here's a player who combined well with likes of Kagawa and Weigl who played in the central role, so maybe there is hope of him replicating that with the likes of Ozil and Wilshere.

If Arsenal can sign a good defensive midfielder, then the prospect of Mkhitaryan, Ozil, Wilshere and Lacazette could be interesting. So it's not all doom and gloom!

Rohith Nair @RohithNair(Twitter), @nair.rohith(Facebook)

Manchester United have once again done great business to get Arsenal's superstar goalscorer to the club. It was Robin van Persie in 2012 and Alexis Sanchez now. To the Gunners' credit, at least this time they don't come away empty-handed.

While Alexis will continue to do what he does best on the left, Mkhitaryan's role and position at Arsenal is tougher to predict. Wenger should play him alongside Mesut Ozil and I don't think one will come in the way of the other. In fact, they can complement each other.

With Santi Cazorla's Arsenal career clearly over, Mkhitaryan is a capable replacement - a versatile player who can play in the middle or the wings, dribble his way out of trouble and create openings for his teammates off the ball.

All in all, a win-win situation for both clubs as even the two players will be happier with the switch.