We know a lot about Alexis Sanchez and his undying love for the beautiful game, whether it’s for Arsenal or in the national colors of Chile. This season he has featured in 18 matches at club level and as you would expect from such a vital asset to his national team, he has also played in all Chile’s international fixtures for Jorge Sampaoli’s side.
However, Sanchez has more or less picked up where he left off last season and he hasn’t had any form of rest whatsoever with the only game he sat out being Arsenal’s Capital One C up defeat to Sheffield Wednesday last month. This is a player that featured in 50+ games for Arsenal last season, as well as all Chile’s qualifying fixtures and the 2015 Copa America they hosted on home soil and went all the way to the final.
Yes, Alexis’ zeal to play football is second to none but there comes a time in a manager’s life when he needs to protect a player from himself. Arsenal has some pretty tough fixtures in December and Wenger will need all his players at his disposal but this weekend’s game against Norwich is one I would be hoping to see Alexis sit out. With Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returning to action, the timing is good for Alexis to get a breather before facing Sunderland at the Emirates and the Gunners’ undoubted game of the season against Olympiakos in Athens.
I would like to see a lineup like this against Norwich…
If you were to insert Alexis Sanchez into this lineup, Joel Campbell is obviously the player that will be axed out but in the wake of such an impressive performance against Dinamo Zagreb, you will want to lad to build on it against a struggling Norwich side. Aaron Ramsey would be better suited in his central midfield role, and with the influential Santi Cazorla by his side, Arsenal can control the midfield from deep. With the red-hot Mesut Ozil ahead of them, he can supply the killer balls to Olivier Giroud that will be supported by Campbell and the Ox.
Wenger can also opt to bring Mathieu Flamini into the team, and Arsenal can still field a formation that will not include Alexis…
The Flam is dying to get a chance in the team as well, and it’s down to the manager to make his selection for the Norwich game but I firmly believe that the Gunners can get maximum points against the Canaries without the services of Alexis Sanchez. The player himself has been carrying a couple of knocks this season.
It’s high time he gets some rest.
Sayonara
Download the Gooner Daily BlackBerry App to receive notifications on your Smart Phone when a post is published.
Follow Gooner Daily on Twitter @goonerdaily. I’ll follow back
Visit Gooner Daily’s Facebook page.
Click on the “Follow button” to join Gooner Daily’s Mailing List.
Leave a Reply