Premier League: How Alexis Sanchez Has Become a Key Figure at Arsenal

Go-to man, prolific goalscorer and match winner: Alexis Sanchez has become an instantaneous cult hero since his arrival at Arsenal in the summer.

His ability to cause chaos on the ball and net at crucial times sees the Emirates Stadium outfit sit in fifth position on the Premier League table and on the cusp of qualifying from the Champions League group stage.

Following some incredible performances—the Chilean has managed to score five goals in his last three matches—the plaudits Sanchez has been receiving from teammates are telling.

Speaking to the club's official website (h/t James Orr of The Independent), Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain compared the 25-year-old to Luis Suarez, while Mathieu Flamini admitted that Sanchez was "right up there" with Robin van Persie and Thierry Henry—two of the best strikers of the current generation, per the London Evening Standard. Both comparisons are indicative of the impact Sanchez has made in a relatively short period of time.

In a period when key departures and injuries to integral attacking players such as Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott have halted the side’s progress, Alexis’ incredible form is a timely boost for a side seemingly lacking conviction up front.

In fact, his boisterous runs across the width of the pitch has given Wenger’s attack a fear factor, and it could be said that the north Londoners finally have an attacker of similar calibre to RVP.

His seven goals mean he currently sits in joint-third place on the scoring charts, while his shots-to-goal ratio of 3.1 and 98.2 minutes-per-goal average are career-best numbers.

Central to Sanchez’s form has been the freedom he has been given to roam around the pitch—a right bestowed upon him by Wenger. At Barcelona, the attacker was often restricted to a wide role whereby he was limited to a supplier role for Lionel Messi.

Things are different at Arsenal, and his positioning varies from situation to situation, match to match.

In his first few matches for the Gunners, namely against Crystal Palace, Sanchez played on the right wing, a position to which he is accustomed. Their match against Chelsea in early October saw a move to the left wing, which allowed him to cut back his right foot to cause havoc. More recently, though, his central role has allowed him to become a goalscoring threat.

His ability to manoeuvre around the width of the pitch has led to an increased work rate. Whatever position he is playing, Sanchez is able to exploit the gaps within the channels to devastating effect. His finishing has improved in comparison to previous seasons.

Sanchez has also become a contributor without the ball, and he often drops deeper in an attempt to link up with teammates. His defensive capabilities have also been on show, and his high press has seen him average at 2.5 tackles a game—incredible for an attacker.

At 25 and approaching his peak, there is every chance the Chilean can replicate the exploits of Suarez, RVP and Henry. Arsene Wenger’s tactics have allowed the attacker to thrive and Sanchez no longer feels restricted like he once was at Barcelona. Arsenal are finally reaping the rewards.

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