Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez Must Not Become Centre-Stage Distraction

Alexis Sanchez was raging when he came off in the win over Swansea City on Saturday. He must not become a centre-stage distraction for Arsenal.

The 4-0 victory is something to be heralded and celebrated. After a run or poor performances, even if the results did not match the displays, Arsenal rebounded in a spectacular manner. Whilst there is cause for concern with the issues that the team had in dealing with Swansea’s high-intensity, high press system in the first half, ultimately this was a day that tipped the scales in the positive direction.

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However, much of the media coverage after the game, including myself, has centred on one rather negative action from the Gunners’ star man. With 79 minutes on the clock, Arsene Wenger, with his team four goals to the good, saw the opportunity to substitute Alexis Sanchez for Danny Welbeck, both giving the Chilean a time of rest and Welbeck some precious minutes as he looks to recover his match sharpness after a near year-long absence.

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Most saw it as a sensible move. Sanchez was not one of them. Once on the sideline, in a collision of fury and rage, he isolated himself, hunkered under an overcoat and sulked his way through the remaining 10 minutes. After the game, Wenger was asked about his behaviour, stating:

"“I think, as well, we have players on the bench who are strikers who need competition, we were 4-0 up, he’s just come back from a good rest,… so it was a good opportunity not to be stupid. All the players are frustrated when they come off, some show it, some not. I’m long enough in the job to know that. I just make the decision I feel is right, that’s it. He’s a good guy who gives a lot and who always wants to do well for the team. There’s no problem. Looking at the game tonight, that’s really minor, minor, minor.”"

Wenger is right to play down the incident. It is, after all, a show of sheer passion, a desperation to win and a great impetus and imminence to play. Sanchez is a footballer. He is not – this is particularly amid the many rumours circling about players moving to China for rather substantial pay packets – a money-chasing man.

Although he wishes to be paid as his talent validates, he clearly just wants to play. That is a wonderful characteristic to have. His fight and his desire is something that Arsenal have been lacking for many years under Wenger. But it does not mean that his actions must become a centre-stage distraction.

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Sanchez must learn that, in being a spearhead of the team, he is not the only member. Football is a team sport. Success comes from the collective, not the individual, and Wenger cannot lose sight of that as he looks to man-manage a tempestuous star.