Alexis Sanchez has been predicted to do even better than last season by his boss, who has also defended the amount of time he gave the Chilean off as a holiday following the Copa America, which he won with his country. The former Barcelona man garnered critical acclaim after signing for the Gunners in the summer of 2014, but hasn’t had much of a break, which has led to concerns about his performance this year.
However, Arsene Wenger doesn’t think that’ll be the case. Speaking prior to Sunday’s televised visit to Selhurst Park, and quoted by the Arsenal website, Wenger said: “He came back reasonably fit. He practised for two weeks before he came back. He did not start from zero. In training now, he looks alright.
“I knew before the start that, once he was here, he would be difficult to stop. So I gave him a long enough break. He had four weeks off, which is quite reasonable. He finished on July 3 and he came back on August 3.
“He works extremely hard in every single training session to show that he is ready. I think what he does is, for me, normal. It is what everybody should do. You wonder if he has created a beach at home, and runs along the living room! He is a hyperactive guy. He needs that to be happy.
“He played 52 or 53 games last season, plus the Copa America. That means somewhere he has an instinct that shows how far he can go. It is difficult. In March, April, May, you could see he was a bit jaded. But he is still a guy who can make a decision in a game. And once he is out there he gives 100 per cent.
“This season, he knows what is expected from him, and he will do better than last year.”
Sanchez made 52 appearances for his new club after his move from La Liga last year, scoring 25 times in the process. He headed off to the Copa America post-season, before returning and putting in a 20-minute appearance in Arsenal’s opening day loss at home, against West Ham United. He was unable to avert a 2-0 defeat.
