Arsenal Vs Crystal Palace: 5 things we learned - Alexis Sanchez the difference

Arsenal Vs Crystal Palace: 5 things we learned – Alexis Sanchez the difference

LONDON, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 28: Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal celebrates as he scores their third goal with Hector Bellerin during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on December 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images) /

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LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 28: Jack Wilshere of Arsenal shouts during the Premier League match between Crystal Palace and Arsenal at Selhurst Park on December 28, 2017 in London, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images) /

4. Jack Wilshere impresses again

Jack Wilshere has now played four Premier League games in succession. That is the first time that he has done that, in an Arsenal shirt, in four years. Perhaps more than the quality of his performances, the very fact that he is having performances altogether should be celebrated most.

Nevertheless, this was Wilshere beginning to show his best, most creative qualities. No player had a higher pass completion rate, only Alexis Sanchez completed more dribbles, and across the 90 minutes, Wilshere was fouled seven times, which is the joint-most of any player in a single Premier League game this season.

He also produced a beautiful piece of quality for the third goal, dropping a deep, lofted pass perfectly into the path of Sanchez, like a quarterback surveying his options before floating a 50-yard striker into the bucket of his receiver down the sideline. Wilshere is not quite at his very best, as every reporter seems to be asking him these days. But he’s close. And it is wonderful to see.