Although he didn’t have his best game on Saturday during the 1-1 draw with Manchester United, Alexis Sanchez drew praise from his manager who looks to the Chilean as a key part of his side’s newly resilient make-up.
The 27 year old flew back 15 hours from Santiago, arrived in London on Thursday afternoon, trained on Friday then played on Saturday morning with his hamstring wrapped in bandages.
Speaking afterwards, the Arsenal manager extolled the Chilean’s attitude and desire to do the job for his team.
“Overall, for a guy who has played a decisive game on Tuesday for Chile, or basically Wednesday morning, travelled after and had jet lag, it’s remarkable,” he said.
“I did it [started him] because Sánchez is a guy who can take people on and I knew that would be a quality.
“He’s good in counter-attacks in short spells as well, he’s always a player who is not scared of anybody.”
It was Olivier Giroud, on as a substitute, who bagged the goal which saved Arsenal a point, and Wenger is hopeful that will bolster his side’s confidence.
“I hope it strengthens the belief inside the squad that no matter what happens, we can always come back.
“As long as you’re playing many big games, you can give games to everybody. It’s more than that. It’s just the understanding and camaraderie in the side. It’s the common target you share.
“Sometimes a player won’t play in October and then afterwards he’ll play every game until January. That’s part of it.”
Remarkable? To not make ONE successful forward pass? Oh, ok. It must be Ramsey’s or Özil’s fault, then.
Alexis made 12 successful forward passes.
From where were they made? From the deep midfield. I talk about real forward passes : check the stats on the official site.
You mean the type of pass that takes you forward in time or as a culture or civilisation?
watch the game carefully – next time 🙂
Just give his hamstring a rest, play Giroud against pSG.
What kind of c*nt are you?
Alexis is an exceptional player and brings so much to the side, but Giroud is showing why he is so important to us.
If Alexis is fit enough to start on Tuesday, I would play him on the left and start Giroud up top as a reward for his recent contributions, but I think I may be a bit too sentimental in my thinking here.
I don’t think it’s sentimental. More like it’s crucial to show the squad that if you deliver consistently from the bench, then you’ll get a run in the starting 11.
Unless you’re Ramsey… Then you walk into the starting 11 when ‘fit’
…and “play” for the entire 90 minutes even if don’t make one successful pass or if almost every chance for the opposite twam comes for your cockup! It must be awesome to be entitled like Ramsey!
And be constantly played out of position. Such entitlement! He must be a liberal elite!
I actually think, Alexis should have been rested on Sat and Giroud started.
I think we shouldn’t start him against PSG, particularly on the left.
Remember how upset we were all when we learnt Alexis was going to play for Chile last week.
I know he is an important player. However, we are not an one man army.
It’s better to handle a match or two without him, than a injury layoff.
im lil bit worried about yellow card hes getting , im sure its near one match ban ?
does anyone have the statistic of that sanchez yellow card this season ?
Player stats, sortable by category, always available here: http://news.arseblog.com/arsenal-player-stats-2016-17/
Did he actually say “camaraderie” …? ha!
Can’t say the last part of those quotes fills me with enthusiasm re. Alexis.
We all want to see him on the pitch, but playing him against United was a huge gamble, both in the context of his recent injury scare and what happened at Norwich last season.
Its all well and good having a go at Chile for playing him, but if you don’t practice what you preach, and risk him knowing full well he was in the “red zone” were looking at him missing a crucial part of the season again.
Here’s to hoping he gets a bit of a rest against, at least, Bournemouth. Perhaps we can play Iwobi on the left, Giroud as our striker, Walcott on the right. Partner Xhaka with Ramsey and Ozil in front of them.
We’ve already qualified. I’d prefer giving him a rest against PSG and let Giroud do his thing.
3 goals in 10 games. No wonder Giroud is miffed. Get him back on the left flank – his performances leading the line have been exaggerated.
Playing Ramsey out of position and keeping Xhaka on the bench was the big gamble.
Yep your right He knew he could rely on Ramsey (left or right) , and no matter what we may say or think Granit isn’t the finished article re defensive mid-fielding, but I’m thinking that Arsene has a plan for him and Ramsey in the middle for the future. Coq was excellent , Elneny was fabulous, almost Carrick like. Arsene did a Jose Mu, he played defensive. The goal was scored because our little Theo had a lapse in concentration (go figure) Alexis should be rested but it won’t happen Also not a criticism, but Ozil had two weeks off… Read more »
“He knew he could rely on Ramsey”?! I don’t know what match you were watching mate. The one that I was seeing had an utterly useless, at times even dangerous for us, yet anyway entitled Ramsey.
I watched the game recording again last night I firmly believe the reason we gat a point and not a loss was down to the work Coq and Elneny put in over the first 70 mins. Like everyone I want want Xaxh to be the main man, but those two are such key contributors too.
I also watched Ramsey carefully and believe he put in a better defensive shift than we have got from Iwobi. Good squad rotation and tactics in my mind.
Personally i would of put touch tackling xhaka in midfield the ox on the left and theo on right let em run at utds defence
Don’t think he had enough energy to start in the weekend.. But he’s got us over the coals with the whole contract thing.. So wenger has to play him and talk nice to keep him happy.. Not that he’s wrong.. Sanchez is incredible but he was not u to speed on the weekend.. Even though service may have been lacking..
Elneny is the really weak link of the team, not Ramsey. On his position, is not good enough to pass the ball to the side. He´s too soft. He have the opportunity to surprise with long passes and cut the opponent game on the midfield. Ramsey, yes , lack of quality sometimes, but he is hungry for scoring and aggressive recovering the ball.
We are in danger of overplaying him and becoming over reliant on him. BOTH Giroud AND/OR Alexis are options up top. We don’t necessarily have to have a ‘Plan A” and a “Plan B”. We don’t have to rely on Alexis trying to pick the lock with Walcott for 72minute and no shots on goal. Sometimes, we need to provide the sledgehammer with Giroud. But 18 minutes on the pitch may snatch us a draw, imagine if we had him on for 30 minutes, we may have snatched the winner. I just don’t understand this either or Giroud HAS to… Read more »