Monday 3 November 2014

Hot Chilean!

Arsenal 3-0 Burnley


Alexis Sanchez was once again at the centre of another Arsenal win on Saturday as the Gunners eventually overcame a stubborn Burnley side 3-0.

Before the match, Arsene Wenger had discussed the merits of South American strikers in the modern game and the fact that top level European forwards are now an extremely rare breed. Sanchez proved his manager right with yet another wonderful display to earn all the plaudits from the football pundits, as well as Wenger, who compared his striker to Luis Suarez during his post-match interviews.   


Sanchez is fast becoming an Arsenal legend, despite only signing for the club in the summer transfer window. The Chilean has all the attributes required for supporters to take him to their hearts. Blessed with phenomenal skill, speed and quick feet, Sanchez also displays an outstanding work rate, hunger and desire as he constantly chases the ball down, placing the opposition defenders under immense and relentless pressure. As the team goes through a difficult transitional period, he is carrying them through with match winning displays game after game and is reaping the rewards he so richly deserves, scoring 10 goals for his new club already.

Since their move to the Emirates stadium, Arsenal have historically struggled to break through opposition teams who sit deep and defend in numbers. The Gunners have somewhat played into the opposition’s hands at times, playing square passes time and time again and failing to move the defenders out of position. The arrival of Sanchez however has given Arsenal a new dimension. More often than not, when he receives the ball, the Chilean is direct. His first thought is to surge forward, he gets his head down and drives through the opposition’s defensive lines, forcing them to commit players and therefore creating space for his teammates to exploit.

To a certain extent, the Gunners are still learning how to play with their new star player and are still in the process of adapting their individual games accordingly. Against Burnley for example, Arsenal were frustrated at times before they scored the first goal which eased the tension and led to the second and third, but in time and with Walcott also returning to first team action on Saturday, the Gunners will have one of the most feared attacking line ups in the league.   

The home side dominated possession on Saturday but it was Sanchez who was at the heart of Arsenal’s attacking play throughout the game, setting up Welbeck in the 13th minute for a shot which was destined for the back of the net only for Kieran Trippier to somehow block the Englishman’s effort, with the goalkeeper beaten. Sanchez was at it again 13 minutes later, surging forward before finding Oxlade-Chamberlain on the wing, whose cross was directed narrowly wide by Cazorla’s volleyed effort. On the half hour mark, Tom Heaton, in the Burnley goal, had his palms stung by a wonderful effort from Sanchez, before the Chilean saw an even better curled shot just sail past the post and then just before halftime Heaton denied Sanchez again, this time from close range.

The second half was no different with Sanchez showcasing his eye for a pass, with an excellent clipped ball over the top of the Burnley defence to the onrushing Callum Chambers, whose cut back fell to Cazorla with the goal at his mercy, only for Burnley defender, Duff to somehow block the Spaniard’s shot. Despite the away side’s heroic defending, Arsenal would not be denied and finally broke the deadlock in the 70th minute. The goal scorer? Sanchez of course, rising highest at the back post to head home a deep cross from Chambers, displaying the characteristics which have so endeared him to the Arsenal faithful. As one of the shortest players on the pitch, the Chilean was third favourite to win that header, as he rose between two towering Burnley defenders. But Sanchez’s determination, hunger and desire, saw him get to the ball first and get the goal his excellent performance deserved.

Having finally broken the deadlock, the Gunners quickly doubled their lead to put the result beyond any doubt. A low delivery from a corner fell to Welbeck, whose powerful shot was blocked on the line. Chambers reacted quickest to the rebound and poked the ball into the net for his first Arsenal goal. Then in injury time Sanchez showcased his quick feet, after collecting a cross from Gibbs, to evade a couple of challenges, before firing home his second of the afternoon.

At the final whistle, Arsenal supporters were in awe at the sensational all round performance they had just witnessed from Sanchez, the new hero at the Emirates. Yet a man who had last played on this hallowed turf back on 4th January 2014, also made his mark after entering the fray in the 80th minute. Theo Walcott was welcomed onto the pitch with the loudest cheer of the day and thrilled the home crowd with an initial run which saw him go past two or three Burnley players. Minutes later, a powerful shot forced Heaton into a fine save at his near post to deny Walcott a goal scoring return and then a pin point cross from the Englishman saw Podolski’s volleyed effort come crashing back off the post. It will take him time to get back to full match fitness, but based on this cameo performance, Walcott may well be right when he proclaims he is back, better than ever.


When Wenger completed the signing of Welbeck on transfer deadline day, having already secured the services of Sanchez, the prospect of Arsenal having one of the most exciting and fastest attacking line ups in Premier League history brought a smile to the face of every Gunners fan. With Walcott now returning to the first team set up, that prospect is now tantalisingly close. Walcott will now be chomping at the bit for more game time and Wenger must manage his return carefully. However if there is one player the manager will want to wrap up in cotton wool, it is undoubtedly Sanchez. Only ten games into the new season, the Chilean has already become pivotal to Arsenal’s hopes of success. It is a pressure under which many would crumble, but this is a man with extremely broad shoulders and the strength of character to continue in the same vein. Arsene Wenger once famously said of Sol Campbell, “you could go to war with Sol”, the same applies to Sanchez.

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