It wouldn’t be ground-breaking to say that every Premier League winning team needs a go-to man. That sprinkle of stardust. A match winner.
Without delving deep into the history books, memory serves, in anguish, to remember the goals Robin van Persie brought to Manchester United’s title win in 2013, Didier Drogba’s similar influence in 2010 and Cristiano Ronaldo’s brilliance in 2008. Happier memories of Thierry Henry’s mastery in 2004 are also nostalgically tucked away.
Among the many characteristics of champions, a player possessing the unique ability to win games single-handedly, deliver flashes of genius and furnish moments of inspired excellence are usually what separates the winners from the nearly men.
For over a decade, Arsenal have been the nearly men. But a certain Chilean can be the Gunners crown jewel in firing them to a first title since Henry and the Invincibles of ’04.
Alexis Sanchez will return to London Colney this week on the back of a fantastic international break where he took his goal-scoring form to nine in five games. The latest, a brace against Peru in a 4-3 win, follows on from his goal against Brazil.
After a slow start to the season coming off the back of Chile’s Copa America success in the summer and no pre-season, Alexis is starting to hit the heights of his outstanding debut campaign in England. His first hat-trick in the Premier League against Leicester triggered an upturn in form with a goal following against Olympiacos and then a delightful double against United.
The scary thought for the rest of the Premier League is the form he is showing is an improvement on last season. His passing and link-up play have developed as expected now he is understanding his teammates better and vice versa. Arsene Wenger hinted at that back in August and also tipped the former Barcelona man to improve on his finishing.
Alexis has that desire to go forward and provoke chaos in the defences because he has a go at you, to run at people and that creates danger.
He is already better than when he arrived. In his final finishing there is room for improvement, but in his final ball he is already much better, his vision is quite good and incisive.
There isn’t a more likable player in the league; maybe Sergio Aguero battles him out for that accolade, but around N7 Alexis wins hands down.
The 26-year-old is the perfect footballer. Drive, tenacity and desire are the basis of his game. His talent a wonderful result of his appetite to be the best he can. It’s an infectious quality and has proven to rub off on Theo Walcott who admitted so last week.
The goals will be what Alexis gets the headlines for. Rightly so, when he is in this vein of form. But the exciting prospect for Arsenal fans is the burgeoning partnership with Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil. Speed, creativity, power, goals. The three in tandem is a formidable trio on paper which has clicked on the pitch recently.
To get all three to maintain that over the stretch of the season would be asking a lot. But neither would it necessarily be needed to win the league. Dips in form will come, but getting one of them to sustain it throughout the remaining 30 games will be vital. Alexis can be that guy.
Keep Alexis Sanchez fit and firing – Arsenal are in with a fighting chance of winning the league.
