Monday 28 November 2016 11:52, UK
Alexis Sanchez took charge in Arsenal's win over Bournemouth and he's quickly become their talisman...
Arsene Wenger described Alexis Sanchez as "remarkable" after last week's draw at Manchester United and, against Bournemouth on Sunday, he was once again the Gunners' standout man. It's becoming a familiar role.
Sanchez has emerged as Arsenal's talisman this season. The 27-year-old is the player his team-mates look to for inspiration and he relishes that position, providing a spark and a scoring touch to Arsenal's play, as he did in their 3-1 win over the Cherries at the Emirates Stadium.
He constantly demanded the ball as Arsenal laboured in the first half against Eddie Howe's impressive visitors and, as the hosts gained control in the second period, he led the attack.
Sanchez scored twice, hit the bar, could have been awarded a penalty and finished the game with 74 touches, the most he's recorded in a Premier League match since the start of October.
But Sanchez isn't selfish. He came up with five key passes, too, creating more openings for his team-mates than any other player on the pitch.
His link-up play with Mesut Ozil in particular is a key combination for Wenger. They exchanged 17 passes on Sunday, as they looked to unpick Bournemouth's backline, and Sanchez fed the German in the Bournemouth penalty box in the build-up to Theo Walcott's headed goal.
They are Arsenal's chief inventors - Sanchez and Ozil have both created 30 chances in the Premier League this season, 19 more than any of their team-mates. Only six players in the division have fashioned more openings.
There was no intricate play required for Sanchez's first against Bournemouth, though he was given a gift by centre-back Steve Cook, whose poor back-pass allowed the striker to latch onto a loose ball and shoot past Adam Federici.
Sanchez's second was simple, too, tucking in a cutback from substitute Olivier Giroud from close range in injury time.
But time and again, Sanchez is making the decisive contributions for Arsenal. Those goals take his tally to 10 in 18 appearances in all competitions this season. He's comfortably the team's top scorer. He's their top assist maker, too, with five to his name.
Only Chelsea's Diego Costa (14) has been involved in more goals in the Premier League this season than Sanchez (eight goals, three assists).
But in his false nine role Sanchez often drops deep, instigating attacks as well as finishing them.
Sanchez and Liverpool's Roberto Firmino are the only two Premier League forwards who have created more chances for others than they have taken shots themselves (excluding blocks, based on min. 20 shots).
Sanchez is second only to Firmino for touches, passes and chances created among Premier League forwards, too.
His all-round contribution to Arsenal is plain to see from those numbers.
And yet, there are reports that, with less than two years to run on his contract, negotiations over a new deal have stalled with a shock move to China being mooted in the press.
No doubt Arsenal are working hard behind the scenes to tie down their main man. They would be foolish not to.
But in the meantime, Sanchez's commitment cannot be questioned. He is a player who wants to play every minute of every game - and he virtually does. Goalkeeper Petr Cech is the only player other than Sanchez to be involved in every one of Arsenal's 13 Premier League games this season.
With his tireless running, relentless attacking and quality in and around the penalty box, Sanchez is leading the Gunners' title charge - and thriving in his role as their go-to man.
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