Alexis Sanchez has scored 18 goals in 32 matches for Arsenal this season, but manager Arsene Wenger fears the Chilean forward is wearing down
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger conceded in advance of Sunday’s FA Cup match against Middlesbrough that star forward Alexis Sanchez could be wearing down under the weight of his first season in the Premier League.
Sanchez came off with a knee injury in last week’s win over Leicester and Wenger told BBC that the player didn’t seem to be the same guy.
More from Premier League
- USMNT news: Balogun to stay, Musah to Milan, Ream wants promotion
- USMNT news: Dest to Fulham, Aaronson joins Union, Gold Cup roundup
- USMNT news: McKennie to Villa, Leeds departures, Sargent goal
- USMNT news: Pulisic to Milan, Musah to Fulham, Pepi to PSV
- USMNT rumors: Balogun to Chelsea, Robinson new contract, Pulisic to Milan
“He had not the same intensity in his game as he had until now,” Wenger said. “I’m not sure he was free in his head to sprint as he used to. I don’t know if it was down to the kick he got on his knee, but he was not himself.”
Sanchez, signed from Barcelona last summer for nearly $53.9 million, has 12 goals in 21 Premier League matches this season and has netted 18 in 32 total appearances, including four in seven Champions League affairs.
Wenger said the injury wasn’t a major concern and he could conceivably play in Sunday’s match.
“He has a swollen knee and he cannot move well, but it’s only a kick, nothing else,” Wenger said. “If he’s not available for Sunday, he will be available next week.”
Arsenal is currently fifth on the Premier League table with 45 points, one behind fourth-place Southampton for the final Champions League spot for 2015-16.
Sanchez was the most expensive transfer in Chilean soccer history in 2011 when he was signed by Barcelona for $38.5 million.
In three seasons at Barcelona, Sanchez scored 47 goals in 141 matches. From 2006-11, Sanchez was with Udinese in Italy’s Serie A, although he played the entire 2006-07 campaign on loan to Chilean Primera Division club Colo-Colo and was out on loan in 2007-08 with River Plate in Argentina’s Primera Division.
He has 26 goals in 77 international caps for Chile since 2006.
In last summer’s World Cup, Sanchez had a goal in a win over Australia in group play and scored the tying goal in a 1-1 draw with host Brazil in the round of 16. However, he was one of three players for Chile who couldn’t score in the penalty shootout as Brazil advanced 3-2 on PKs.
His transfer to Arsenal in July made him the second-most expensive signing in Gunners history behind German midfielder Mesut Ozil’s $65.4 million deal in 2013. Sanchez’s deal has worked out better for Arsenal, however, than Ozil’s. The German said in October he wanted out of his deal and there were rumors of a possible January transfer to Bayern Munich, but those did not come to pass.
More from FanSided
- Joe Burrow owes Justin Herbert a thank you note after new contract
- Chiefs gamble at wide receiver could already be biting them back
- Braves-Red Sox start time: Braves rain delay in Boston on July 25
- Yankees: Aaron Boone gives optimistic return date for Aaron Judge
- MLB Rumors: Yankees-Phillies trade showdown, Mariners swoop, India goes to Seattle