Friday, 20 February 2015

Alexis Sanchez has the Power

After a fantastic world cup playing for the Chilean national side Arsenal completed the signing of the summer sining Alexis Sanchez for £30million from Barcelona. 

Despite having won five trophies in his three seasons at the Nou Camp, having joined from Udinese in 2011, Sanchez often found himself out of the team for big games. He admitted that he found it difficult playing in the classic Barcelona style, his obvious energy and pace didn’t fit with the patient ‘tika-taka’ Barcelona passing game.

Alexis Sanchez, the most influential and successful signing of the summer

Sanchez is proving to be one of the best signings of the summer. He is Arsenal's Duracell battery who is currently powering them through the Champions League stages and into the Premiership’s top four. One of his team mates Oxlade Chamberlin commented that “he is non-stop and his desire to win the ball is unbelievable”.  In October Sanchez was voted Premiership player of the month. 

On the 19th of December 1988 in Tocopilla Chile, Sanchez was born. It all started with Cobreloa based in Calma in north Chile. After a season he moved to Santiagho based Colo-Colo, where he won the Chilean Primera Division in 2007. His performances were suitably impressive for Italian side Udinese to make a move for the player where he spent three seasons. 

Barcelona came in for the player and after struggling to hold down a regular starting position he then moved onto play for arsenal. Alexis is quoted as saying that “from an early age I liked football and I started with my friends in the neighbourhood, before we even had grass pitches there were only dirt pitches.”

When he played with Corbela he received only £45 a month even when he got into the first team his wages remained low. Udinese who payed £1.7 million for the 17 year old promptly loaned him out for seasons in Chile and Argentina where he was on Championship winning sides with again Colo-Colo in Chilie and River Plate in Argentina. 

Alexi Sanchez is Arsenal's 'Duracell Battery'

Having made his international debut at the age of 18, on his debut Alexis played alongside Marcelo Salas; Chile’s all time record goal scorer in September 2007, and a hero of Alexis Sanchez. It was a tough decision for him to leave Barcelona last summer with offers from Liverpool and Arsenal. With Liverpool often struggling to get into the Champions League whereas Arsenal have been in the champions league 16 times every season since the competition’s conception, perhaps the decision was made easier.

It was clear last season that arsenal had to back up their main striker Olivier Giroud. Wenger believes that Sanchez will benefit by stepping out of Messi’s shadow. Sanchez’s ambition, hunger, and physical toughness have already impressed. “I came here to win the league the Champions league and much more” he quoted. Sanchez is proving to be one of the best of his generation.  Let’s hope he continues to improve and can inspire Arsenal to something special in the coming years. 



by Jack Donaldson



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