Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez, Eden Hazard Debate Easily Resolvable

Arsenal have the superior player in Alexis Sanchez in regards to the Hazard debate, but it has gone on long enough. Let’s end this pointless argument.

On any given day I’m bound to refer to one of Arsenal’s rival’s fan bases as deluded. Mainly because they all are. Whether it’s Manchester United claiming they are still relevant, Manchester City thinking they are the best team in England, Tottenham thinking they can actually finish above us or – my favorite – Chelsea fans thinking Eden “The Ghost” Hazard is better than Alexis Sanchez.

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It’s a debate that began when Hazard inexplicably beat out Alexis Sanchez for PFA Player of the Year in the Chilean’s inaugural year at Arsenal in 2014-15. Many attributed it to the natural bias against new arrivals.

Alexis scored 19 goals and nine assists that year across the EPL and the Champions League, compared to Hazard’s 17 goals and 11 assists. That’s a close fight, granted, but Premier League alone, Alexis outdid Hazard and accounted for much more for his team than the Belgian ever could.

That is the last viable point of reference that Hazard proponents have to point to. The following season, the debate went to bed, as Hazard pulled off the ultimate act of ghosting. He tanked with Chelsea, managing just four goals and four assists in all competitions.

No matter the state of the team, truly World Class players are always a presence. They are always a force to be reckoned with, even if they have to do it alone. Look at what Gareth Bale always managed to do with a sputtering Spuds side – that is World Class.

Hazard? That is not World Class. Meanwhile, Alexis Sanchez hasn’t had an off day since he was born. I have never asked myself where Alexis is because, even if he’s not scoring, he is everywhere on the pitch.

Hazard? Not so much. I have watched entire games where I honestly (not even exaggerating) wondered if Hazard was at the concession stand.

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That is not World Class.

Just because Hazard is showing up again this year doesn’t mean the debate can rage on. You don’t just take a year off and then come back, stoking the fire of the debate. And besides, Alexis has had a foot in more goals this year than Hazard has in less minutes played – surprise!

In fact, while we’re at it, let’s just look at what these two have done in their careers. Alexis has totaled 20,605 minutes across all competitions compared to Hazard, who has a full 5,000 more minutes. That’s two seasons worth of minutes.

And yet it hasn’t helped him. Alexis has scored 105 goals and added 61 assists while Hazard has 87 goals and 78 assists. A quick tally of math will tell you that that is a narrow victory for Alexis at 166-165. In 5,000 less minutes, Alexis has managed to still produce more goals than the Ghost.

Also, consider that Alexis was scoring goals while in and out of a Barcelona side that was highly competitive whereas Hazard was bullying the competition in Ligue 1 with Lille. Food for thought.

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What isn’t food for thought is the very concept that Hazard can shake a stick at our Chilean. Get real!