Manchester United sign Arsenal superstar Alexis Sanchez in his prime… once again proving the Gunners are becoming a feeder club for Europe’s elite

ALEXIS SANCHEZ finally ended his spell at Arsenal... with Manchester United the surprise name to pinch the Chilean's talent.

For months, going back to last summer, it was obvious Sanchez wanted out of the Emirates, with Manchester City seemingly the only new home on his mind.

But an 11th-hour move by United boss Jose Mourinho did the trick, with Sanchez leaving the Gunners in his prime.

But this is nothing new for Arsenal fans... in fact it's just another case of deja vu.

Arsene Wenger has watched on a host of top talent have left for bigger things down the years, proving the Gunners have become a feeder club for Europe's top teams recently.

We take a look at seven of the biggest names to swap Arsenal for the likes of Barcelona, Chelsea and the Manchester duo.

1. CESC FABREGAS

Transfer: Barcelona (2011)

"WE'VE lost a world-class player", were the sentiments of Wenger when Fabregas left North London for Barcelona.

It cost £35m in 2011 for the La Liga giants to tempt the Gunners into selling, but it's clear the player himself needed no persuading.

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Arsenal fans were left even more furious when Wenger revealed: "We are sad because we tried to keep him".

Despite not winning a Premier League title since 2003-04, the Gunners faithful consider themselves amongst the biggest clubs on the planet.

To lose a star player to another team was inconceivable... and yet here we are.

2. THIERRY HENRY

Transfer: Barcelona (2007)

OF course, Fabregas was not the first Arsenal player to head to the Nou Camp, with club legend Henry doing the very same thing four years earlier.

In the prime of his life, aged 29-years-old, Barcelona came knocking and Henry jumped on the plane.

He certainly moved on to pastures greener too, winning the league, cup and Champions League in an extraordinary treble in the 2008-09 season.

3. ALEXANDER HLEB

Transfer: Barcelona (2008)

WHILE by no means the biggest name player to leave Arsenal, the fact Hleb did so to join Barcelona is telling... the third player on this list so far, alone.

Hleb, then 27, was liked by the Gunners faithful, but again, left in his prime to join the Spanish giants.

Looking back at his career, the Belarusian proved once and for all why so many players left Arsenal for Barca.

Hleb revealed: "Barcelona was and still is the strongest club [in the world]."

4. PATRICK VIEIRA

Transfer: Juventus (2005)

VIEIRA served Arsenal faithfully for what seemed like a lifetime, but what many forget is that the Frenchman left aged only 29-years-old.

Still amongst the elite in terms of Europe's central midfielders, Vieira joined Juventus in 2005, recognising the Gunners had peaked in terms of the Prem domination.

He went on to win three Serie A titles with Inter Milan after a spell at Juve, before heading back to England to win the FA Cup with Man City.

5. ASHLEY COLE

Transfer: Chelsea (2006)

IT was a massive transfer, one that sent shockwaves through Arsenal Football Club, as Cole shipped off to join London rivals Chelsea.

At the time, the Blues were on the ascendancy, with the Gunners clearly floundering.

Arsenal academy kid Cole, then 25, was in the prime of his career and would go on to win a hatful of trophies at Chelsea.

The move angered Arsenal fans, who have never forgiven him, but Cole will have no regrets... not given the two clubs' very different decades since the switch.

6. KOLO TOURE

Transfer: Man City (2009)

TOURE was a key part of Arsenal's mean defence of the early 2000s and it was something of a surprise when he left to join recently-rich City in 2009.

However, it quickly became apparent the Ivorian star was sick of failing to challenge for the league title.

On leaving, Toure claimed: "I am still at an age, 28, where I feel I am at my peak and will play my best football."

His desire to win trophies paid dividends too, as he went on to win the Premier League and FA Cup in Manchester.

7. ROBIN VAN PERSIE

Transfer: Man United (2012)

AFTER eight seasons at Arsenal, Van Persie stunned - and angered - Gunners fans when he swapped North London for Manchester United.

Another player disillusioned with life at Arsenal, with no Premier League title in nearly a decade, RVP's decision turned out to be the correct one.

In his first season at Old Trafford, the Dutch striker helped United win their 20th Premier League title - going on to spend two more seasons in Manchester.

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