Alexis Sanchez Reportedly to Be Granted Arsenal 'Winter Break' by Arsene Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will reportedly give forward Alexis Sanchez some time off over the festive period to ensure he remains in peak condition for late in the 2016-17 campaign. 

According to Matt Barlow and Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, the French coach is concerned Sanchez could suffer from burnout, having played more minutes than any other outfielder in the Gunners squad this season, and he is ready to hand him a self-imposed "winter break."

The Chile international could reportedly sit out Arsenal’s final UEFA Champions League group match, away to FC Basel, provided they have already clinched top spot ahead of Paris Saint-Germain, as well as the Gunners’ FA Cup third-round match over the first weekend of January.

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As noted in the report, Sanchez suffered an injury scare during the previous international break, tweaking his hamstring while on duty with Chile. Additionally, the former Barcelona man has not enjoyed a summer off since 2013, having featured in the 2014 FIFA World Cup and then back-to-back Copa America tournaments in 2015 and 2016.

According to the report, "Wenger wants his attacker, Arsenal’s top scorer, to be firing on all cylinders for the business end of the season."

WhoScored.com note that Sanchez has played 999 minutes for the Gunners this term in league matches, with only goalkeeper Petr Cech (1,080 minutes) on the field more frequently.

As noted by Sport Witness during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw against Manchester United on Saturday, Sanchez is an inspirational figure for this team:

Nonetheless, the unrelenting intensity with which Sanchez plays could lead to burnout, and it’s something Wenger has made reference to previously.

"He is in the red zone," the manager said midway through the forward’s first season at the club, per Amy Lawrence of the Guardian. "You can see that when he plays, but he can dig deep."

If Sanchez was in the "red zone" then, he will almost certainly be there now. 

Sanchez’s appetite for the game means he’s not a player to coast through matches either. When on the pitch, he hurtles after lost causes, shuts down defenders and commits opponents relentlessly throughout the game.

As these numbers from Squawka Football illustrate, he helps bring the best out of his team-mates, too:

However, the ability to appropriately rotate the squad is a skill that modern-day managers must have, and with a glut of matches on the horizon, Wenger will be wary of pushing the Chilean too hard.

The two fixtures mentioned, provided Arsenal are secure in their Champions League group and receive a favourable FA Cup draw, seem like ideal chances to make some changes.

In Sanchez’s first season with the club, his form dwindled a little in the second half of the campaign, while his second term took a while to get going following Chile’s 2015 Copa America glory. Having begun this one so brightly in such a key position for the team, Wenger must find a way of staving off another lull.