Arsene Wenger Compares Alexis Sanchez to Luis Suarez, Talks Arsenal and More

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has explained his decision to play Alexis Sanchez at centre-forward this season and has likened the Chilean to Barcelona star Luis Suarez. 

Per the MailOnline's Spencer Morgan, Wenger spoke with Gunners legend Thierry Henry for Sky Sports and his former charge asked him on Sanchez's positional change:

"

First of all I had big competition up front. I thought Danny Welbeck and Olivier Giroud would play there.

I reflected at the end of the season and I decided to try it with Sanchez. He has similarities with Suarez. He goes at you. 

Remember at the start many people questioned the decision. The few times I had tried him there before he was not convincing. In the first two games I was not convinced but now game after game he is growing into this position and getting better and better.

"

The pair do indeed share a number of qualities—both players are known for their impressive work rate, pace and dribbling skills, and their passing in the final third is often incisive and creative.

Sanchez is also a prolific goalscorer, per OptaJoe:

Metro's Oli Price-Bates hailed Wenger's decision to switch him to a No. 9:

However, his goalscoring record cannot match the Uruguayan's—Suarez has racked up a phenomenal 92 goals in 106 appearances for Barcelona.

The 29-year-old scores almost every week and regularly bags impressive hauls when the Blaugrana put teams to the sword—he notched four goals in a game on three occasions last season, along with five hat-tricks and as many braces.

Sanchez still needs to add a new level of consistency and ruthlessness to achieve those kinds of tallies, but he has talent and work ethic in abundance.

Wenger also spoke of his side's chances of winning the Premier League title:

"

We have a squad that is not anymore made up of kids but made of mature players who have experience.

It’s down to how consistent we will be and it’s down to producing performances every three days now.

The team looks more solid, they have a good team spirit but you know you have disappointments during the season and it’s all about how champions respond to those disappointments. 

We have to show we can do that but lets not forget the competition is of a very high level. You have many teams now who can really compete for the title. 

"

In the summer, Wenger added Granit Xhaka, Shkodran Mustafi and Lucas Perez to the squad—signings that looked to have addressed problem areas in the squad and added further resilience and quality to the spine of the team.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

While the latter has had little opportunity to showcase his skills in the Premier League, he netted against Nottingham Forest in the EFL Cup when he completed his first match for the club.

The Gunners impressively ended their nine-game winless run against Chelsea as well and sit in third place in the Premier League on the back of five successive victories.

For all their struggles to maintain a title challenge in recent years, Arsenal have always been capable of producing purple patches as impressive as any other side—their problem has been sustaining their form throughout a campaign.

As such, caution should still prevail when backing them to win the league this year, but their new signings should help in that regard.

Wenger has just celebrated his 20th year in charge of the north London outfit, and Henry asked him about his longevity at the club, per Sky Football:

Sky Football also shared details of his record with Arsenal:

The Frenchman is in the final year of his contract at the Emirates Stadium and could see his tenure come to an end when the season finishes.

Wenger has already cemented a legacy few managers could dream of, but how the Gunners fare this year could have a significant impact on how he's remembered.

Arsenal have not won the title since 2004 and have scarcely put in a serious challenge for the trophy since, while they have exited the UEFA Champions League in the round of 16 in each of the last six years—unwanted records that have caused the Emirates faithful a great deal of ire in recent times.

Going out on the high of a league title or European success would be a fitting and romantic end to Wenger's reign, but there's a long way to go yet.