Why It's Vital Alexis Sanchez Takes Copa America Form into Arsenal's New Season
This summer, Alexis Sanchez led Chile to a Copa America victory for the second year in succession. After a trophyless season with Arsenal, he’ll be determined to savour success at club level in 2016/17.
The Gunners will hope to see the best of Alexis next season—he’s absolutely integral to their hopes of mounting a serious challenge for major honours.
That’s why they’ve been so quick to rebuff Juventus’ interest in taking Alexis back to Serie A. In quotes reported by Tom Dutton the Evening Standard, Juventus director general Giuseppe Marotta admitted to El Mercurio: "Sanchez is a great player, but Arsenal told us they have no intention of selling. Arsenal said that the Chilean attacker is non-transferable and that he is not on the market."
It’s the only sensible decision for Arsenal to take—not least because losing a marquee talent such as Alexis would feel like a significant backward step. His arrival, 12 months after the record-breaking signing of Mesut Ozil, appeared to signal a new era at the Emirates Stadium. It’s unthinkable the club would sell either of those players so soon into the project.
Alexis’ goals make him particularly valuable. Arsenal are not blessed with too many prolific scorers—Sanchez and Olivier Giroud were the only two players in the squad to make double figures last season. At a time when the Gunners are actively trying to add reliable finishers, it would be ludicrous to let their most clinical player leave.
He gave a devastating demonstration of what he’s capable of in the Copa America Centenario, in which he was voted as the player of the tournament. He started all six of Chile’s matches, scoring three times and creating a further six goals for his team-mates. Arguably, his most eye-catching displays came in the games against Panama and Mexico.
In the former, he grabbed a brace in a 4-2 victory. They were two outstanding goals. First, he met an Eduardo Vargas cross with a perfectly executed volley into the top corner. Then he leaped high above the defence to nod home a lofted ball from Jose Fuenzalida. That performance showcased multiple aspects of Alexis’ game, chiefly his athleticism and technical excellence.
In the following round, he played a crucial role in the 7-0 dismantling of Mexico. Not only did Alexis score, but he also set up another two goals.
Even when he wasn’t scoring or assisting, he was always a menace. Alexis is an iconic player for Chile, and his mere presence on the field seems to inspire those around him to greater heights. Arsenal fans have grown accustomed to his remarkable work rate, and he was every bit as industrious when representing his country.
That kind of commitment was exemplified when Alexis played through the majority of the final against Argentina having badly twisted his ankle. He must have been in quite some pain but managed to overcome that to contribute to Chile’s success.
There may be a consequent cost. According to John Cross of the Mirror, Alexis is likely to miss the start of the Premier League season.
Cross wrote:
"Alexis Sanchez could miss the start of the season, leaving Arsenal facing a potential striker crisis.
Star Sanchez suffered an injury to his left ankle during the Copa America, which his Chile side won for the second summer running last month.
The Gunners are still monitoring his recovery, but fear he could miss the Premier League kick-off on August 14. Sanchez’s ankle is improving, but the ligament problem still leaves him with a race against time to be fit.
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The truth is even if Alexis had not suffered an ankle problem, he might not have been deemed ready for the start of the season.
Manager Arsene Wenger is on record about the importance of a proper rest after international tournaments, recently telling the club's official website: “It takes you two or three weeks to regenerate…to recover completely, and they need to come back with hunger.” The opening game against Liverpool may always have been an ambitious target.
Wenger will be especially keen to handle the Chilean with kid gloves after the problems he encountered last season. In 2015/16, the Frenchman succumbed to the temptation to include a still-recovering Alexis in his squad for the first Premier League fixture against West Ham United.
Although Alexis came through that match unscathed, he suffered a major hamstring injury in the winter, forcing him into a lengthy lay-off. Wenger’s decision to bring him back ahead of schedule was surely a factor in his body's breakdown.
Arsenal cannot afford to lose Alexis for a prolonged spell next season. He’s simply too important to their title aspirations.
There is a decision to be made about how best to use him. While the vast majority of Alexis’ football with Arsenal has been played from the left flank, last season saw him switch to the right midway through the campaign. It gave him a new lease of life after full-backs began to suss him out on the left-hand side. As Wenger said in April, per James Benge of the Evening Standard:
"He’s a striker who can have an impact on the game and since he’s come back on the right side, I think he has been more efficient.
It is more natural for him than on the left. His game is a bit more predictable on the left, on the right he is unpredictable because he can go outside and inside. On the left he looks to always come inside and that’s easier to block.
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However, during the Copa America, Alexis predominantly played from the left. In the new season, Wenger must decide how best to deploy the gifted forward. Perhaps if he is unable to sign a new striker, he’d even consider giving the former Barcelona man a run through the middle—he has the requisite attributes, if not the experience.
What was evident from watching him in the United States this summer is Alexis is best when granted freedom to roam. His starting position becomes less significant when he is afforded the opportunity to wander wherever he pleases.
That’s not always easy to accommodate—Alexis is just one of many stars at Arsenal, and Wenger is not in a position to give them all a free role. However, his performances for Chile show how effective he can be when given licence to be led by his instincts.
Right now, Alexis is recuperating. Arsenal must be patient with him. If he performs as he did at the Copa, he’ll be well worth the wait.
James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout 2016/17. Follow him on Twitter here.
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