Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez Reports Rather Disturbing
Reports are indicating that Alexis will be playing more of a central role at Arsenal because he is less selfish there. RIdiculousness.
Arsenal’s usage of Alexis Sanchez through the middle against PSG has been widely accepted as a horrid decision that should never be replicated. The difference between him up front and when he shifted out wide was palpable and should be all the evidence ever needed to strike that idea down for good.
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Literally, the last thing we need right now is any sort of indication that he will be pushed to the center forward position again.
So let me be the bearer of bad news. There is an indication that he will be pushed to the center forward position again.
It comes from a report from the Mirror, so do with it what you like, but there is more evidence to support it than just that report.
Anyway, more on that report. According to the Mirror, Wenger had a talk with Alexis over the summer and informed the prolific Chilean that he was too selfish when deployed out wide and would have to play through the center more.
It went on to state that Wenger claims to have mastered how to control Alexis’s moods and how to alter how well he plays. Color me a skeptic.
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This has bad written all over it if Wenger really is trying to mold the way that Alexis plays. A few changes, sure, but forcing him into a new position where he is clearly less effective in the hopes of coming out with a new player doesn’t sound like a winning proposal.
The reason why I feel like this report is more than what they normally are is because this happened in November of 2014 when Alexis first joined Arsenal. He was benched because Wenger didn’t like how he was playing when wide left.
I pray that is not the same as what is happening here. Arsenal sorely missed Alexis on the flanks against PSG for the hour or so when he wasn’t there. His work rate should not be tampered with. His defensive help is irreplaceable and he needs space to create. He isn’t someone who can just sit in the box and field passes before turning them on net. He gets suffocated.
Until we hear otherwise, I wouldn’t panic, but if these reports prove true and we see Alexis up front again, then the whole thing will have turned rather disturbing.