Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger thinks Alexis Sanchez can develop into a striker in the mold of Luis Suarez or Sergio Aguero if he will get used generally in the role.
Arsenal's scarcity of centre-forwards was once highlighted as Sanchez began up entrance in the four-three loss to Liverpool at the Emirates, with Olivier Giroud now not in shape match and Wenger but to search out an extra striker on the transfer market.
Whilst Giroud probably back against Leicester on Saturday, Wenger said he thinks Sanchez might also furnish a long-time period solution to what has turn out to be a crisis position for the Gunners.
"I suppose it's worth to try as he has the first-class to move in the back of," Wenger stated in regards to the Chile forward, who has almost always been used as a winger because becoming a member of Arsenal from Barcelona two years ago. "On the flanks he makes use of quite a lot of vigor by means of chasing again and i want to use his vigor generally a bit of extra successfully via going at the back of the defenders as he is an effective finisher. He has performed centre-ahead at Barcelona."
Sanchez has a high-vigor variety of play that's reminiscent to that of Suarez at Barcelona or Aguero at Manchester metropolis, and Wenger believes he additionally has the competencies to turn out to be a deadly intention-scorer.
"He has an identical qualities. And he has a good timing to run in the back of the defenders," the Frenchman stated. "let's see. It is exciting to look how well he copes with that."
Sanchez was Arsenal's prime scorer in his first season on the Emirates but overlooked a large chunk of his 2nd campaign with an harm. But with Theo Walcott having acknowledged that he wants to return to the right wing, Sanchez would grow to be Wenger's important alternative to Giroud up entrance -- unless he manages to convey in a brand new striker.
Arsenal even have Danny Welbeck returning around Christmas, after scans showed he's therapy rapid than anticipated from knee surgery, whilst academy product Chuba Akpom impressed with four pursuits in preseason.
And so despite the fact that Arsenal wouldn't have any success in the switch window, Wenger is constructive he has ample choices to manage -- and hasn't ruled out using Walcott up entrance again.
"it's an fundamental season for Theo, given that last 12 months he had a complex interval," Wenger stated. "He can play as a striker and his numbers are first-class when he plays up front. We've got Giroud, Sanchez, Walcott, Akpom and [Yaya] Sanogo who is still here but is injured on the moment -- the avid gamers we purchase need to be higher. ... Appear, I think a membership like ours is eager about giving chances to the gamers we strengthen in our own membership. We have just a few strikers who've a hazard, if we find the correct gamers we buy.
"however when you ask persons 'give me names' ... You see that it is not that easy -- look at a club like real Madrid, who have they bought? Up front, it is vitally problematic."
Wenger admitted that Sanchez's efficiency against Liverpool "was no longer the most convincing" however blamed that partly on an ankle harm he has handiest just lately recovered from.
"I consider he is considered one of them who is just not wholly equipped bodily," Wenger mentioned. "We didn't dominate the game as so much as we would have appreciated in midfield and he suffered a little bit bit from that as good. ... When he got here back he was once struggling just a little bit [with the ankle]. But he had a good leisure, I gave him five weeks.
"but it surely takes him somewhat longer since of that probably too as he might no longer work and when he came again he was once no longer totally capable to be one hundred percent. I consider this week he used to be already sharper in coaching."