With another two goals under his belt, making it 10 in his last 12 games, it’s little wonder Arsene Wenger was quick to praise Alexis Sanchez in the wake of the 3-0 win over Burnley.
The Chilean topped and tailed the victory with his 9th and 10th strikes of the season, showing desire and technique in equal measure, and the Arsenal manager was happy to give the forward due credit.
Speaking about his brave header to put Arsenal ahead, he said it was his desire to make something happen that was key.
“The header he scored is that,” he said. “It’s more the result of determination e than doing something special technically. He has the attributes of a fighter and of a quality, talent player. That’s what you want to see in every football player.
“Since he’s played through the middle he looks more goal dangerous. Now it looks to me that he’s really dangerous through the centre of the pitch because he’s in full confidence, he’s physically strong, he likes to take people on as well and he makes perfect runs.
“Through the centre of the pitch maybe he’s more dangerous.”
We’ll have to wait and see if that’s where he’s going to play him in the long term but given his effectiveness right now it seems mad to consider moving him.
Wenger was also pleased by a more controlled Arsenal performance and another clean sheet.
“Overall I think it was a very satisfying win. Recently at home we haven’t got the results we wanted but for the confidence of the team it’s also important to win without conceding a goal.”
What a player we have on our hands. Gets me excited every time he gets the ball. Hoping for even better things from him.
He’s just phenomenal. I haven’t felt this good about a player in a long time. He’s the sort of player you just love to cheer for because he’s not just ridiculously skilled (ala the Dutch Skunk), he works and works and works. And then works some more.
He sounds like total class off the pitch, too. As far as I know there’s never been even a hint of anything but a stand-up guy. He’s the kind of guy who gives you faith in the human race.
He is world class. Cannot believe Barca let him go! What a superb talent we have.
Can’t believe they let Cesc go either. And Apparently they’re gonna let Pedro go too! They’ve gone mad!
They probably realised that Cesc is a 2-faced sh1t that only cares about himself.
Not really the ‘Barca’ team ethic.
they preferred a racist biting diving cunt instead screw how good suarez is hes not the kind of footballer you want your kids to look up to.
Suarez never bit no racists… Same as he never racially abused no white man that he ate part of
Sanchez was a titan today!
He is awsome! Just what we needed! COYG
Wenger gets knocked a lot but I think full credit must go to him for making this switch. People say he is not a tactical manager but abandoning his 4 1 4 1 when it was clearly not going well and playing to the strengths of our best player has seemed to give everyone a lift and the defense is benefitting as well by having both arteta and flamini in there. Credit where credit is due.
Actually, I thought Wenger went to a 4-14-1 in putting on the more attack minded Ramsey. This positional issue is moot. Wenger’s intent is for the team to switch between 4-2-3-1, 4-1-4-1 or even 4-4-1-1 at will. This comes with understanding and to some extent the link man in midfield (ostensibly Jack in recent games and now Ramsey as he comes back) is key. Kudos to Wenger for buying Alexis. 33m quid well spent. You won’t hear that from the media or the Wenger out brigade. They’ll still bleat on about how much better it would be to spend 16m… Read more »
I think it was more that he was starting with two strikers centrally, rather than switching it up mid-game.
As you say, it’s fluid but with two strikers in there it’s definitely more 4-4-2-ish.
Not forgetting the “Why didn’t he buy back Fabregas” brigade.
Every player in the team can and SHOULD learn from Alexis. He is our catalyst at the moment! In effect, he is everywhere and we are almost better off playing a 4-4-1-1 with Alexis given freedom to move across the field at will behind Welbeck. But the real difference today was Wenger throwing a bit of caution to the wind and putting Ramsey on. I have mentioned that 4-2-3-1 is i effect 4-1-4-1 depending on where the link man in midfield plays and where we put our emphasis (attacking overload or defensive caution next to the DM) That Wenger played… Read more »
I don’t think playing two holding midfielders is overkill. It works as long as the attacking players don’t play like hungover teenagers and misplace passes throughout the game. As long as the attackers play well, we create enough chances (32 shots today). This ,playing Arteta and Flamini, balances the team while the players at the back and at the front develop a good understanding.
It looked alright today, against the worst team in the league but I suspect it would be better to have a little more attacking flair in other games.
Although, Arteta is hardly a destroyer so I guess it is decent balance anyway, as long as our midfielders know what to do they’re generally capable of doing it.
We’ve wobbled against most teams this season irrespective of the back 4 playing. AW brought Ramsey on when he felt the opposition was tiring and less likely to counter attack. He could have made the change earlier but would have been murdered by the anti-AW crew if it had gone wrong. This way he’s trying to build the confidence and momentum that we need for a winning run. Even the change was a conservative one where he picked a guy with a strong engine who’s reasonably quick, to cover attack and defence.
I’m not sure about that, I’m VERY certain goals against us this season has mainly come from open play. Either a counter or our midfield getting sliced through like it wasn’t even there. So we still need that DM.
I remember in the 2010 World Cup, Chile played a game at the stadium in the city I lived in. There was this one guy in front of me who kept on saying that that number 7 for Chile was one hell of a player… He kept on going on and on and on about that number 7… I thought he was just one of those guys you know that like a player cause he does a lot of step overs. Admittedly I had no clue who this Alexis was but 4 years later I want him to have my… Read more »
He is by far a breath of fresh air, constant hustle from goal to goal, now that is what I call a winner there! If the other players around him put in that kind of effort each time they are on the pitch then anything is possible with this team even with the handicap of having a dinosaur leading them from the sidelines, sorry couldn’t resists putting that dig in on Le’ Professor!
The man is just a beast, fucking relentlessly searching for the ball at all times. His tenacity… he’s like Tevez with his bulldog-like approach.
Sanchez will be better than Suarez. What and see.
May Dennis bless Alexis Sanchez and Alexis Texas.
More South Americans please, more well mannered, humane ones less toothy racist ones is my preference. i dunno about you?
But please more super Sanchez!!! Wow!
I wonder how we’d line up with everyone fit ( lol ikr ) particulary that #10 role will be interesting.
Great Alexis performance again . A fucking warrior. Hope the Ox will learn from the man . He is young and still abit raw but he has the man in Alexis where he has to strive to. He must learn a full 90mins none stop if u want to be a world beater like the Alexis Sanchez.
The Ox doesn’t look fit, watch him closely and you’ll notice he starts walking from about the 60 minute mark. I think he needs to get to a point where he looks fresh for 90 minutes before he starts running around like Alexis
At least we know Barca won’t come around sniffing nx season ha
Knowing Barcelona, i wouldn’t rule it out.
I still believe this team can move several gears; can’t wait for that time. On Alexis, Arsene had everyone fooled – we all thought he passed on Fab because of Ozil. I think Alexis was the real reason. If we had got Fab back, we may not have had enough to buy Alexis also. At the time, Alexis would have been a bigger miss. I expect Ozil to come good ultimately. That will compensate for the loss of Fab. But tell me; who could we possibly sign for 35m in the coming windows that would equal this goal machine? Good… Read more »
He passed on Cesc because he didn’t want to re-sign a player that went on strike to get a move away from us! You may not have an issue with an unfaithful girlfriend/wife, but most of us do.
Was watching the games from stands and I was focussed entirely on Sanchez. The way he turns, gets out of tricky situations, sets up goals for people, etc is absolutely amazing. Throughout the game, cross after cross is put in box and burnley defenders would head it out. Sanchez, a mere 5’7 inch hulk went through 2 six foot defenders and heads to score the goal. He would go through the wall if he has to. That’s how good he is.
The CB he beat for his first goal was like 6’5… Sanchez is 5’7. Pure desire to bust a gut and make a bug leap. Such a class player
Alexis as our No. 10… leaves Ozil on left or not at all. Interesting times. There is real competition for a starting birth in attack and big calls for the manager in choosing. Nice problems. I’m really trying not to mention the paucity of options in defence!
In years past, we’ve always played best when the front 3/4 constantly rotates during the game. It gives the opposition defenders different problems to solve (and most defenders aren’t very clever). But you need to have extremely good players across those 3/4 positions to do that efficiently, and we haven’t been in that position for a while. Alexis, Theo, Ozil and DW could do that without a problem. Some of the others aren’t quite so flexible. HFB is a very good ‘team’ CF but only a CF, so then the other 3 need to rotate around him, but again Alexis,… Read more »
Alexis fucking Sanchez..Thank you Barca…
WALEXIS
Alexis The Great! (ATG)
The chilean Jesus is waiting for the Welsh Jesus to wake up to rule the EPL world and defeat the cocky one and his bunch.
Alexis Sanchez >>>>>>>> Alexis Texas
thats two different things mate hahaha
Rosicky!!!!
Yes he eventually plays in the middle ! He played in this position in Italy, sometimes with his national team and I was very disappointed to see him moved on the side after just few games in the middle while he needed time to adapt to his “new position” after being on the right side at Barcelona. I thought it was non sense to buy him for playing on a side like in Barca while we have plenty of wingers. But now that he is fully fit, we have a incredible striker, like the one who can score in every… Read more »
Sanchez has the hops like fucking Jordan
Just trying to remain calm. I see such a powerful team developing at the Emirates. Nobody can deny we are better than last year. Lost Sagna, Vermaelen, Jenkinson (for a short time only I hope), picked up Alexis, Welbeck, Debucchy, Chambers, Campbell. More depth, more talent. Just need to add a little depth in defense and the “Big Boys” better look out. I like AW am not conceding this year yet. As I have said earlier, I just want us to be within 5 of #1 on Jan 1. If so we can still do it. Ya Gotta Believe!
On another note, I sent Mark Hughes a text to confirm our appointment early next week. I said ‘C U Next Tuesday’..
I’m 33 and just joined facebook to like Alexis Sanchez a bit more, there should be a love button.
Sanchez, what an awesome player. We would win all if half of the team played like him. Glad he rejected the scousers to join the gunners.
Regarding Alexis Sanchez- I haven’t seen a player at The Arsenal who plays with such obvious joy since Kolo Toure was in the red and white. Its a pleasure to watch the Chilean play the game, and we’re fortunate to have him at the club- I hope his attitude is infectious in the dressing room.