Arsenal: Demanding Alexis Sanchez More Than Mere Goals

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has revealed how Alexis Sanchez is demanding of his teammates, even after a win, showing how important he is to Arsenal’s cause.

The mentality of the Arsenal squad has been questioned for many years under Arsene Wenger. There is a niggling doubt regarding their ability to grind out the difficult victories, to keep clean sheets and earn the one-goal wins and to challenge and to encourage one another to improve the team as a whole.

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The leadership qualities of Tony Adams, Martin Keown and Patrick Viera are long gone. There was a soft underbelly to the side. The likes of William Gallas, Cesc Fabregas and even Robin Van Persie were uninspiring, undemanding captains.

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Alexis Sanchez, though, is made of very different stuff. He is stern, stubborn and steadfast in his undying will to win. While his technical and physical skills are worthy of admiration, it his mental toughness, his fight and desire, that his success his founded on. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, after the five-goal demolition of Southampton in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday, revealed a story of when he came under Sanchez’s wrath even after the Gunners were victorious:

"“He’s (Sanchez) definitely one of those players who will tend to bring out the best in you because he’s very demanding of himself and everyone else. The number of times we’ve come off the pitch and we’ve won, but he’s still not happy with something. The Crystal Palace game… the boys were all happy in the dressing room but Alexis came to me in the shower and said ‘My friend are you going to score? Oh no my friend, I passed you the ball, you have a cup of tea, you wait… and then you shoot.’ He always wants assists, he wants goals and that’s what makes him the player he is.”"

Sanchez has been heavily praised for his productivity on the pitch. Rightly so. He has scored 15 goals and amassed seven assists in just 22 Premier League games. Add to that two goals and three assists in his six Champions League starts thus far, and it’s easy to see how important Sanchez is to this team.

However, his influence extends far beyond than mere productivity. While still important, his demanding nature, his willingness to criticise, are equally as powerful. This Arsenal team have the technical skill to match any team in the league. It is their mental fortitude that has held them hostage in recent seasons.

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As the Gunners look to haul back Chelsea in the title race, continue their success in the FA Cup and attempt to overcome a formidable Bayern Munich in the Champions League, they will be relying on their mental toughness, inspired by Sanchez, to work its magic.