Keeping Sanchez free from injury will be one of the objectives for Wenger by SE
With the increasing number of injuries for Arsenal, it’s frightening to work out whether Wenger can actually put out 18 names on the team sheet, in the coming days of the campaign. It started with Gibbs on the opening day of the season, as the Englishman pulled his hamstring very early on against Crystal Palace; Arteta was the next injury casualty for Arsenal during the first leg of the Champions League playoff tie against Besiktas; Giroud followed next and, of the aforementioned three injuries, the French striker has suffered the worst case scenario of missing up to 3 months of action.
As a result of those injuries, Sanchez’s versatility has come to Arsenal’s rescue. The Chilean, in the last two fixtures, led the line for his new club; He looked lively and, albeit hasn’t been at the pinnacle of his prowess, he surely has a lot more to offer, as the season progresses into the business end.
The utility of Sanchez to this Arsenal side is unparalleled to such an extent that, in my opinion, he has probably eclipsed the significance that Ozil carried during his first few weeks in an Arsenal shirt. Yes, the German playmaker is right up there in Arsenal’s ranks, but Sanchez’s versatility just makes him so much more important to Arsenal’s scheme of things than the German.
Focusing on Giroud’s injury, more importantly, Wenger doesn’t really seem inclined to utilize Joel Campbell as his first choice No.9, at least until now, as you get the feeling that it’s going to be Sanchez all the way, to lead the line for the Gunners.
There is quite the same degree of ambivalence on Giroud’s compatriot, Sanogo, who, ever since his stunning displays in the Emirates Cup and the FA Community Shield, has gone down the pecking order. Yes, the 21-year old, too, injured his hamstring during the opening game against Crystal Palace but – now that he is fit – it remains to be seen whether the lanky striker gets his opportunity to play up front against Leicester this Sunday.
Also, with Wenger seemingly uninterested in bringing another striker to the Emirates, despite Giroud’s injury, the significance of Sanchez remaining fit goes up by a further notch. And, with such a heavy workload, the Chilean could incur an injury, too.
And dare I say it: Wenger has objectives, to pocket more silverware, after the breakthrough one last May; but if he is to fulfill any of those objectives, then keeping Sanchez fit is the only way forward