Arsenal: Massimiliano Allegri Wouldn’t Be Stupid Enough To Drop Alexis Sanchez

Arsene Wenger made the decision to drop Alexis Sanchez against Liverpool. Massimilano Allegri would not have been so stupid if he was Arsenal manager.

That was a truly horrible first half performance from Arsenal. Insipid, tepid, lazy. It is difficult to put into words how poor they were. And in such an important game in which their top four credentials were under question after a tortuous few months.

Related Story: Arsenal: 5 Players Who Should Be Rooting For Allegri

Because of the recent struggles that the side have had, many fans have been calling for Arsene Wenger to make changes to his starting line-up. However, I’m not quite sure the changes that he did make for Saturday’s loss to Liverpool were the ones that many had in mind.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

In an utterly remarkable move, Wenger decided to drop Alexis Sanchez, Arsenal’s best player, their primary goal threat and chief instigator of all good things in the final third. It was a ballsy move by a manager that is becoming increasingly ruthless in his desperation. After the game, there were some vociferous questions for Wenger to ask and, to his credit, he did explain his thinking. Wenger stated:

"“The thinking was that we had to go more direct and I wanted to play two players who are strong in the air, because we decided to go more direct. After that, to bring on Alexis in the second half. Everybody will come to the same conclusion, but I’m strong enough and lucid enough to analyse the impact. And I don’t deny that Alexis is a great player. I bought him and I always played him. This decision was not easy to make, but I have to stand up for it.”"

While I accept that Wenger was right for trying a different approach to the one that has been harming, rather than helping, his team’s success, against a team that struggle to deal with quick, sharp, counter-attack based moves, to play Olivier Giroud ahead of Sanchez is utter madness. It simply does not make sense. It’s also a move that Massimiliano Allegri would not have been so stupid as to replicate.

The Juventus manager is renowned for his tactical astuteness, especially in the big games. His Juve side are defensively sound, well organised by their coach, and threatening in the final third, moving the ball at pace with great precision and purpose.

Next: Arsenal: 5 Players Who Should Be Dreading Allegri

Now, I am not saying that I want Wenger to leave. Although most of the fanbase would want otherwise, I am still a Wenger believer, however tenuous that position to hold is becoming. Nonetheless, that does not mean that he is not exempt from criticism when he makes the wrong decision, and my word was this the wrong decision.