Alexis Sanchez hasn’t produced the exceptional form that Arsenal fans have come to take for granted as “standard play” from the Chilean, but boss Arsene Wenger backs his man to return to those standards soon.
Speaking at a news conference on Friday morning, Wenger admitted he may have played him too soon this season after winning the Copa America with Chile over the summer.
I played him very early before he was completely fit, physically.
That is one explanation [for his form].
Wenger accepts that any player who succeeds over the summer on the international stage will struggle when that player returns to club football.
The second is that every player who has won a big trophy with his national team takes some while to settle and come back to his best.
These are the two main explanations for me.
Alexis has yet to score this season but has an astronomically high number of shots, with 31. Wenger isn’t worried, though.
I think he has had 31 shots on goal since the start of the season and with his finishing qualities that should allow him five to six goals.
Knowing that the finishing is a bit linked with your form and it is a bit cyclic as well, that is where he should be at the moment.
Alexis will look to get off the mark on Saturday afternoon against Leicester City.
