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