Arsenal Have To Start Catering To Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal have a truly gifted specimen in Alexis Sanchez and, given his unending supply of heroics, it’s time they start catering to him.

Arsenal have had many personality changes over the past few years, mainly thanks to the fresh supply of big name players coming to the club. But this past season, it was clear that Mesut Ozil called the shots. The creative No. 10 registered 19 assists, leading all of Europe. It was a remarkable season for the German.

However, it was a season that fell short once again. Blame who you want, but a little tweak couldn’t hurt anything. The tweak I would like to see happening is to have Arsenal catering to Alexis Sanchez a bit more.

Alexis is one of the world’s best. He is only getting better and with his latest feat, a second consecutive Copa America championship, with a Golden Ball to boot, it’s clear that the Chilean is at the top of his game.

When he first came to Arsenal, it was clear the attack ran through him. Everything did. And it led to initial success. Ozil then stole the spotlight from him, but it needs to be returned to Alexis.

The Chilean is more of a spotlight junkie, whereas Ozil operates better in the shadows.

The concept itself is sound, but there aren’t many ways to let a winger control the game. The obvious option is to give Alexis a more centralized role. That isn’t easy because Ozil is there and Wenger is never going to use Alexis as a striker. But confining him to one side of the pitch is what causes him to go distant at times, so there must be a solution to get him more involved, more often.

To be fair, we do see him and Ozil flip-flop pretty often, giving the Chilean more opportunity, but that doesn’t seem to be the solution either.

My solution is to utilize the right wing spot as another midfield spot for Ramsey or Wilshere. Maybe even Toral, as he won’t gripe as much. Arsenal have done this before, but they never stuck with it. Then, Arsenal could form a rather odd, lopsided attack that could work in Alexis’s favor.

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By letting attacks flow in from the left side, Alexis’s side, that gives Alexis a premium chance to be the center of attention, while Ozil and whoever is by him can serve as the outside ring of the attack. Alexis will have Giroud to find in the middle of the box. A diagram would probably show this better, but lacking the capabilities to provide one, I will invite you to shift your perspective a bit to focus on the back of Alexis as he is backed against the touchline, with the goal to his left.

This is the center of the attack. With no one to his left, Alexis can utilize his own dribbling abilities to create space. He will have Giroud and Ozil directly in front of him with support behind him in his holding midfielders and whoever happens to be at left back. These options will provide Alexis with the necessary tools to reclaim Arsenal’s lead role without the need to expect major changes out of Wenger.

I had mentioned last season that the stretch where Ozil was the most effective was when Ramsey was on his game. It stole the spotlight from the German and prevented opposing teams from locking him down.

This would work the same, only with the added benefit of having Alexis in charge.

I’ll admit, I was spit-balling there for awhile, but my point is twofold. One – that Alexis needs a bigger role. Two – that by giving him that bigger role, Ozil will be even more effective by operating more freely. The idea of ALexis running the attack is predicated on Arsenal’s ability to continuously begin their attacks on his side.

Next: Alexis Exit Rumors Getting Farcical

What do you think Gooners? Is it time to give Alexis the position of on-pitch General yet again?

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