Arsenal: Can Alexis Sanchez Save This Attack?

Arsenal may be fortunate enough to welcome back Alexis in time to face Liverpool, but will the Chilean be enough to hold together this offense?

The best news we have heard all summer – well, the second best, sorry Granit – is the news that Alexis Sanchez is looking to be fit for the season opener against Liverpool. I hate to use a line from Arsene Wenger that everyone probably hates by now, but it pretty much works as good as a transfer for Arsenal.

No one really expected Alexis to be fit for the match. After successfully defending the Copa America in the Centennario (three cheers for Chile), Alexis came out with more than a trophy. He came out with an ankle that looked like a radioactive eggplant. And from the looks of it, that would take some healing.

But, to out delight, both he and Aaron Ramsey have been ‘rushed‘ back to training in order to help Arsenal out with their current transfer conundrum. As in, Wenger just won’t sign anyone (surprise!).

I wrote not long ago that Arsenal would be relying too much on Alexis yet again, but there is a chance we are past the drawbacks of that. The next logical question is simple – can Alexis save an Arsenal attack composed almost entirely of kids and substitutes?

We all know that, seeing as how the season starts in a week, Arsenal’s current crop is going to be what takes the pitch against Liverpool. That means that either Theo ‘I want to make my name as a winger’ Walcott or Chuba ‘I guess I can’t be loaned out anymore’ Akpom will be starting at the No. 9.

You are forgiven if that doesn’t inspire you with confidence.

Meanwhile, we have no idea who will be starting at the No. 10 slot and the wing opposite where Alexis figures to start will probably be held by the Ox, who, while brilliant so far this preseason, still has a lot to prove.

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And so, I revisit my original question. Is Alexis enough to save Arsenal’s attack?

Against my better judgment, I’m going to say yes. Mainly because he won’t be alone and he won’t have to work as hard as he normally does to track back on defense. I have all the faith in the world that Granit Xhaka and either Elneny, Coquelin or Ramsey will provide enough bang from the back to stabilize Arsenal’s often wobbly play and push the attack forward.

And by push the attack forward, I mean bombard the attack forward. No one completed more long balls at the Euros than Granit Xhaka (11.5). Well, two keepers did, but that’s crazy talk. The best long baller on Arsenal last year was Santi Cazorla who averaged 3.5 long balls completed. That’s less than a third of what Xhaka possesses the ability to do.

Granit Xhaka will put the ball on Alexis’ laces and all the Chilean will have to do is finish the rest of the work – stuff that he could do in his sleep.

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So to re-answer that question. Can Alexis save Arsenal’s attack? Yes. But Granit Xhaka will certainly help.

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