Arsenal: ‘Winner’ Alexis Sanchez Sticks Out Like A Sore Thumb

Alexis Sanchez is a natural born winner, the only one in the Arsenal squad according to Paul Ince. The Chilean certainly sticks out like a sore thumb.

The winning mentality of the Arsenal squad is something that has been severely called into question in the light of their 3-1 loss to Chelsea, a result which all but consigned to yet another title-less season in which the memory of the Invincibles fades just a little more.

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As such, the competency of Arsene Wenger has been considered, with many calling for either him to resign or the club to sack him, including former defender William Gallas, the first ex-Wenger player that I can recall ever expressing such an opinion of the now 20-year manager.

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There is, however, one man in the squad that does boast the winning attitude that so many are desperate for the Gunners to show they have. Alexis Sanchez is a shining light within the team, or at least that is the viewpoint of Paul Ince. In his column for Paddy Power, Ince claimed that Sanchez is the only player with the mentality to win:

"“When I look at Arsenal I see a really good team, one of the best squads in the league, but not one with character. There’s a soft-touch about them. Chelsea’s team is full of big characters, big players with desire and the mentality to win – bar Sanchez, Arsenal haven’t got anyone like that. It’s what they’re missing, that presence. They really need that mental toughness is in games like their visit to Stamford Bridge last week or the Etihad in December. They just don’t show it, and that’s where their problem starts.”"

They are fair comments from Ince. Perhaps the likes of Shkodran Mustafi or Laurent Koscielny would perhaps disagree, and I do sometimes find the questioning of professional footballer’s will to win a little tedious sometimes, but Sanchez is the most publicly expressing winner and, wanting to win and having a winning mentality are two very different states of mind.

Arsenal may want to win. They may think it a nice thing to happen. But are they utterly desperate for it? Are they willing to push themselves at the deliberate neglect of all other things to reach their goal?

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Perhaps only Sanchez can answer that question with a resounding yes. For that, he stands out like a sore thumb.