Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez lacks the special something

Alexis Sanchez has always lost possession easily. But in the past, he creates special moments, creates chances and scores goals. But that is no longer happening and the Arsenal attack is suffering as a result.

Alexis Sanchez is a wonderful player. Ever since he was signed in the summer of 2013, the Chilean, alongside the creativity and elegance of Mesut Ozil, who he seems to have a telepathic connection with, has been the central attacking pillar on which the Arsenal attack has been founded.

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In particular, Sanchez has always been an instigator. He has always been able to make things happen out of nothing. He scores goals, he creates chances, he causes problems that few other players can replicate.

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Now, he has always lost the more frequently than other players. His best season, for example, was last year. Sanchez was dispossessed 3.4 times per game in the Premier League. This year, that figure has actually dropped to 2.3 times per game, which is a significantly lesser amount. Moreover, his pass accuracy was only 2% higher last season than this season, and he is actually completing more passes per game this year than last year.

Sanchez is not a player who will preserve possession, control the game and help soothe the play of the team. He is not that type of player. He is a risk-taker, a creator, an instigator. But the problem is that, at this moment in time, those moments of special skill and quality are far less regular than in years past.

Per 90 minutes, Sanchez’s goal output has dropped from 0.7 to 0.4; per 90 minutes, Sanchez’s assist output has dropped from 0.3 to 0.2. A player’s attacking productivity is not measured only in goals and assists. But for Sanchez, because of the shortcomings in other areas and the general style of his play, they are extremely important.

Ultimately, Sanchez’s game is all about producing moments of individual brilliance. But at the moment, that is not happening. In the 3-3 draw with Liverpool, for example, Sanchez was anonymous for much of the game. While he may have scored the first goal thanks to a sleeping Joe Gomez, much of what he tried did not have the desired effect. He did not skip past defenders with the same pace and directness, his passing was wayward, lacking incision and purpose, and because of this, his dispossessions are more damaging to the team.

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Sanchez no longer makes those special moments. And it is hurting Arsenal’s attacking potency. It is not the time to sell him, yet. But it is the time to be concerned.