Arsenal Reaping Rewards as Alexis Sanchez Finds Premier League Feet

Last season, the Premier League was lit up by the virtuoso displays of Luis Suarez. Although Suarez has since moved on to La Liga and Barcelona, there is now another South American forward eating up ground and goals with the same kind of insatiable appetite. At present, Alexis Sanchez’s Suarez impression is so good you half expect him to turn around and bite someone.

Arsenal chased Suarez through the summer of 2013, but a row over a release clause prevented them from getting their man. However, 12 months later, Arsenal secured the next best thing. Like Suarez, Alexis is a force of nature so irrepressible that he can resemble a one-man team.

After scoring both goals in the Gunners’ victory over Sunderland last weekend, he was at the double once again to help Arsenal to a 3-0 win against Burnley.

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With Arsenal struggling to make a breakthrough, Alexis leaped clear of two markers to head the opening goal. It was a header he had no right to win. However, Alexis doesn’t play the odds. He regularly attempts the improbable and achieved it when he met Chambers’ cross to nod powerfully past the goalkeeper.

In the build-up to the game, Arsene Wenger had labelled Alexis a “street-fighter”. Afterwards, he told Arsenal.com that the opening goal confirmed his battling qualities.

"The header he scored is that," observed the Frenchman. "It’s more the result of determination and desire 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."  

His second goal arrived in stoppage time and showed more composure. On that occasion, he collected a cross-field pass from Kieran Gibbs and steadied himself before slotting in to the net.

Alexis’ starring role came in a new position. To counter Burnley’s packed defence, Wenger played a 4-4-2, partnering the Chilean with Danny Welbeck. Speaking to Arsenal.com after the game, the Gunners boss suggested that the central role is helping bring the best out of his No. 17:

"

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.

"

Alexis’ Burnley brace means he has now scored 10 goals in his last 12 games. Not content with racking up goals for himself, he’s also recorded three assists. Few individuals can match his contribution to the Premier League season thus far. 

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Comparisons with the summer’s other major South American import, Diego Costa, are inevitable. Both have impressed with their immediate impact, but there’s an important distinction to be drawn between the two.

Costa is thriving as the spearhead of the league’s best team. He is receiving immaculate service from the most effective creative player in the country, Cesc Fabregas.

Alexis isn’t quite so fortunate. He’s playing in an Arsenal side that have struggled for form and fluency all season. He has largely had to do it alone.

That doesn’t seem to bother him. Alexis’ solo show is single-handedly dragging Arsenal up the table.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and has been nominated as the best Established Football Blogger at the Football Blog Awards. Click here to vote for him.