da cassino： With a draw on the cards last night, Alexis Sanchez once again bailed Arsenal out with a late, late goal against Southampton. The £32m attacker has been terrific for the Gunners since his summer arrival, fully justifying the fee paid for him and the lengths the club went to to keep him from Liverpool’s grasp.
da betsson： With the top four the major aim at the Emirates Stadium, the fans’ favourite is likely to be leaned on heavily over the remainder of the season, and we at FFC Towers believe that he could be the deciding factor in their push for Champions League qualification…
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Adapted to Premier League football well
Nine goals in 13 Premier League outings is some going, and it’s even more impressive considering that Sanchez had not kicked a ball in English action until just a few months ago. The Chilean was always expected to make a major impact at Arsenal, but the speed at which he’s adapted is simply staggering. While other foreign imports – just ask Spurs – take some time to adjust to the demands of the Premiership, Sanchez has taken the ‘duck to water approach’, which could be vital in the Gunners’ surge up the table. So far he’s netted 41% of Arsenal’s league goals. That stat alone tells it’s own story.
Outscored rivals’ players
Taking Chelsea and Manchester City out of the equation – as they’re likely to be battling for the title rather than just top four – Sanchez is the highest scorer in the league. His nine goals come in just behind strikers Diego Costa and Sergio Aguero, with Graziano Pelle – on six – possessing the closest tally for a ‘top four rivals’’ player.
Winning mentality
Natural winners are vital in any sport. The willingness to go that extra mile and not accept perceived lacks of effort can make the difference, and Sanchez appears to be that sort of sportsman. His above disdain at a WIN over Anderlecht in the Champions League – the Gunners had trailed until late on – shows his desire for perfection, which has already helped him to lift a host of honours.
Better than any direct rivals’ player
Look at Liverpool, Spurs, Southampton, Man United and, just because they’re their now, West Ham and Swansea. Their squads are by no means untalented, but their respective top names are not quite of Sanchez’s ability. WhoScored make the Chilean the top performer outside of the top two, with names such as Raheem Sterling, Christian Eriksen, Angel di Maria and Dusan Tadic not quite at his level.
Decent passer
While Sanchez’s main strengths lay in finding the back of the net, the 25-year-old has actually been pretty savvy in terms of his passing this term. The South American averages almost 43 passes per game, registering an accuracy rating of close to 80%. While others may regularly get closer to the 90% mark, the majority of Sanchez’s football is played in the final third, making such accuracy more impressive.