da bet7： Since his £36.13million move from Barcelona in the summer of 2014, Alexis Sanchez has been nothing short of superb.
da 888： A key part of Arsenal’s side for the last two seasons, Sanchez again showed why he is so important to the Gunners with two goals in their 4-1 away win at Hull City on Saturday.
According to the Daily Mail, Arsenal are desperate to agree new long-term contracts Sanchez along with teammate Mesut Ozil, such is their importance to the team.
Following on from a club-record transfer for Ozil in 2013, Sanchez’s move represented a large outlay for Arsenal and a change in transfer policy for a club who were notorious for signing younger players they could develop.
With Ozil on a £140,000 weekly wage and Sanchez on £130,000-per-week, they also broke their strict wage policy, although few will argue against the results.
So here are five reasons why Arsenal are now getting their money’s worth with Alexis Sanchez…
HE KNOWS WHERE THE NET IS
Despite often playing on the wing, Sanchez knows where the goal is.
The Chilean has scored 46 goals in 99 games for the Gunners, including a superb 25 goals in all competitions in his debut season.
Sanchez is arguably the Gunners’ greatest attacking threat with his pace and ability to run at and beat opposition defenders.
As if that weren’t enough, he can score from anywhere on the pitch, as his strike against Aston Villa in the 2015 FA Cup final showed.
HE IS SEEMINGLY IMMUNE TO FATIGUE
While Sanchez’s ability and goal record undoubtedly shows how important he is, his stamina should not go unnoticed either.
The Chilean always puts in 100% no matter who he is playing against and yet never seems to tire.
Arsenal are undoubtedly getting their value for money in terms of minutes played, with Sanchez making 93 club appearances in his first two seasons.
His powers of recovery are also astounding. The Chilean suffered an ankle injury in Chile’s successful Copa America win in the summer, yet was able to face Liverpool on the opening day.
HE DOESN’T MIND WHERE HE PLAYS
One thing that all football managers love is a player who can adapt to more than one position.
Sanchez has shown he is able to do that, comfortable either on the right, cutting in from the left or even playing up front.
With Giroud rested after Euro 2016 and summer signing Lucas Perez still getting settled in, Sanchez has been utilised up top by Arsene Wenger this season and, even though it isn’t his best position, he has served his manager well by bagging goals against Watford, Hull and in the Champions League against Paris St Germain.
HE TURNS UP FOR THE BIG GAMES
Before Sanchez arrived, Arsenal were notorious for not having the bottle in big games. With the Chilean in the side, this seems to have changed.
In the eight games Arsenal played against last season’s top five, Arsenal won four, drew three and lost only once. They were also the only side to do the double over champions Leicester, with Sanchez scoring a hat-trick in the away fixture.
Sanchez has also performed well for Arsenal in Europe, and the Gunners will be hoping he can inspire them to move beyond the round of 16 this year.
HE ALWAYS PUTS IN A SHIFT
While we’ve covered his attacking attributes, one thing that is often overlooked is what Sanchez can bring to a team defensively.
From growing up playing street football in Tocopilla, the Chilean has developed a fighting mentality and never gives up on a lost cause.
Sanchez’s style adds some much-needed grit to an Arsenal side known for playing beautiful football, and it is striking how often you will see him tracking back and hounding his opponents in an effort to win the ball back for his side.