Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez has still yet to hit top gear

Arsenal is really starting to hit top gear, which is fantastic news considering that the “main man” Alexis Sanchez has yet to match that gear.

Arsenal’s recent run of form is clearly being heavily influenced by a potent front three. The three of them, in addition to Aaron Ramsey, have combined for nine goals and ten assists in the four matches they have combined in.

Compare that to just seven goals and three assists in the nine matches where one of the four has been missing. It’s like night and day.

In the middle of all of that is Alexis Sanchez. The Chilean struggled massively at the onset of the season and his early goal drought was (far too) widely covered as people wondered if he was all Arsenaled-out.

But, as it often does, this has gradually worked itself out and, lo and behold, Alexis Sanchez is still a world beater and he is still going to score a boatload of goals this season. He has scored three in his past three matches alone.

Yet, when you stack his numbers up against the rest of the Fantastic Four (catchy, no?), he is the lesser of the four.

In terms of just bare numbers, Alexandre Lacazette and Ramsey have each contributed to eight goals, Mesut Ozil has contributed to seven and Alexis is at a respectable, but not very Alexis-like, six.

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When you break that down to what they have done on the pitch together, the numbers are a bit more telling. The whole premise of the Fantastic Four being a superb force is predicated on their ability to combine with each other and as it stands, Ozil has contributed to seven goals in the pack, Ramsey to five, Lacazette to three and Alexis to four.

Which looks like it would be good news, but seeing Alexis tied down to rather bland numbers if just a telling reminder that despite Ozil hitting top gear and Ramsey hitting top gear, Alexis has not hit that gear yet. And Lacazette likely hasn’t yet either, but that isn’t the point.

The point is, for as good as this attack has been when they’ve all been together, it is only going to get better. Alexis has been visibly flustered at times this year. Shake that off and he will be back to his insatiable self.

Next: 5 Key Players To Watch vs Manchester United

The Fantastic Four provide for a wealth of goals combined, but bringing out the biggest individual superstar of the bunch is an enticing story to follow.

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