The Match of The Day crew on BBC were talking after Arsenal’s win over West Ham yesterday, and Owen Hargreaves and Rio Ferdinand both seem to believe that Alexis Sanchez is keeping our club in the title hunt.
Liverpool just handed us second spot in the Premier League table, thanks to allowing Bournemouth to score three goals from a 3-1 deficit, handing the Cherries all three points.
We now pose as the closest rivals to the on-fire West-London boys Chelsea, who have climbed to the top of the table with eight consecutive wins.
Rio and Hargreaves were talking prior to today’s loss for the Reds, but were already tipping Alexis Sanchez as the type of player who could carry a side to win the title.
Owen said: “Eden Hazard carried Chelsea to the title a couple of season ago; with the way [Sanchez] played, he could carry Arsenal to the title.
“There are better teams, I think Liverpool and Chelsea, but the way he played as an individual is one of the best performances that I’ve seen in a long time.”
Following Hargreaves comments, the crew were asked if the Chilean was considered to be the best player in England, to which Ferdinand replied: “He’s definitely one of [them].
“I think Hazard takes some beating when they’re all on song, but this guy, he’s carrying this team.
“He’s the guy that is the inspiration. [In] defining moments of games, he’s taking the opportunities.”
Alexis has scored 11 and created four in the league already this season, but I think it would be naive to overplay his contribution in a team where many are putting in the work for a successful season.
Our defence and goalkeeper are easily among of the best in the league, with Koscielny and Mustafi quickly becoming the best centre-back pairing in England.
We are of course loving the input by the Chilean, and he is (for me) the best player in the Premier League this season, but to say he is ‘carrying’ us, is simply not true.
Is Alexis carrying our side?
Pat J
There is a lot of quality in the team but the drive of Alexis is what can make us title winners. I don’t believe we can win the title without Alexis, which isn’t a bad thing – many teams are heavily reliant on their talisman and we are no different. Just count our lucky stars that Alexis plays for our club. Obviously some of our other players are brilliant which all adds to our form. We haven’t lost since the opening game in the league and lets keep it that way!
Please don’t Jinx Alexis with articles about how important he is.
We need him BIG TIME
We already lost Cazorla and Bellerin. Let’s hope the rest of the team stays intact
I remember some of our fans saying last season that Alexiis has been found out, and now we see why Barcelona sold him. In a way yes, because people everywhere now realise Alexis is phenomenal, and Barca sold him because Alexis is much too good and way too proud to sit second choice for anyone.
Which was true. Wenger shifted him in the middle and opposition does not need what hit them. Move Alexis back on the left and you will have the same thing again. Personally, I liked him more on the right than on the left but he’s so much better in the center. This allows Ozil and Sanchez to play both false 9. But yes, Alexis is phenomenal only if you look at the passion he puts into his game. Technically, he is superb. Nevertheless, football is a 22 man game. One player has to rely on his mates every game.
When Wenger started his experiment this season by playing Alexis as our main striker, most of us thought,why then did we get Lucas? It’s Giroud or Lucas as our main striker while Alexis continues playing in his position LW. Well-done Wenger on this one. Well done Alexis for adaping to Wengers style.
Alexis played some nice football during his time in Spain but I think he was terrific in Italy playing for Udinese. He dribbles for fun and score some great goals. He is bringing that back again but this time he is more matured. May this continue…
Exactly. At Udine he was absolutely spectacular compared with his spell at Barcelona. Him and Di Natale were a pair to watch back then.
I think it’s high time we played Lucas on the left to contribute to Ozil and Alexis up top…
My worry is with Walcott. He and Sanchez were bossing it for Arsenal at the beginning of the season. We can’t rely on only Sanchez to win us the league….
dnt worry as soon as Bellerin returns walcott will cut into the box like before n return to scoring form…
P.S: Walcott scored against Bournemouth
Attack-wise yes. But our defense has been rather solid and they’re carrying us too. We need Ozil creating chances again. His final ball has been lacking a lot for a little over a month. And we still have problems out wide with finding reliable players because Walcott, Iwobi, Ox are not consistent enough. There are some worrying signs, but as usual, whether we win the title will come down to if we can keep it together and not completely capitulate in Feb-March period like we have done for the past decade.
I would love to see Welbeck and lucas flanking alexis. Once they are both match fit they will give walcott and ox a serious run for their money.
liverpool are not better then arsenal and chelsea have allready been tested by arsenal and have lost, i dont care how much their formation means to them the media, the pundits or conte.
the last time a player carried a team arsenal sold him and united one their last title, the united punidts know what to keep a lid on.
weall know how important alexis is to our team but to say he carries us i disagree,he may be of the reasons why we’re doing well but others players deserve credits too!!