Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez involvement still a muddled affair

Arsenal started Alexis Sanchez against Doncaster Rovers and he played the entirety of the match to mixed reviews. Now what exactly is the plan?

I’m picking up on some mixed feelings regarding Alexis Sanchez‘s latest performance for Arsenal against Doncaster Rovers, and I must say, I am on the team that believes that he was not so special on the day.

Related Story: 3 Improvements Jack Wilshere Has Made

His assist was fantastic, no doubt, and he had some other flashing moments, but altogether, I found myself a tad bit unimpressed by the Chilean, and I have the misfortune of admitting that I actually have to quote Gary Neville here, as I, somehow, someway, find myself agreeing with him.

His words (via Sky Sports):

"“Sanchez has been distracted at Arsenal for the last six months. His career at Arsenal, I couldn’t say a bad word about him until two or three months before the end of last season. I did feel he became distracted. Let’s see how he performs this season at Arsenal. Ultimately he is still building up his fitness, he’s still not in the team.”"

When Neville said “he’s still not in the team,” I believe he was referring to his actual physical status, but I took it as more than that. When Alexis is out there, I don’t feel like he is one of the team. He is griping at his team mates more than ever before and, again, to quote Neville, he looks distracted.

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

Like he is just hating the fact that he is still here and not somewhere else.

I was a bit uplifted by his reaction to Alexandre Lacazette‘s miss against Chelsea, because at the very least it showed he was enjoying himself with a team mate, but against Doncaster, it felt odd, like he wasn’t fitting in.

And that’s why I’m left wondering just what the plan with the Chilean is, because it all feels a bit muddled. He hasn’t started since the debacle at Liverpool, but according to Wenger, that’s because he lacked match fitness.

And now he is back, according to Wenger, so his first move was to start him against Doncaster, rather than saving his fitness for a stoic West Brom just a few days later. Not to mention Wenger coming out and speaking as though Alexis is on equal footing as everyone else on the team.

Next: 5 Things Learned Against Doncaster Rovers

So are we going back into the old habit of starting him every match no matter the competition or is he going to be back on the bench against West Brom. It isn’t clear.