Alexis Sanchez has been, without a doubt, one of the best signings this season in the Premier League. His ball-handling skills, his speed, his goalscoring capabilities and all around performance has given Arsenal a ray of light during this year, and week after week he demonstrates what he can do on the pitch. But did the Chilean make the right choice, or should he have taken the money-packed chance to play for Liverpool? We will analyze some key factors that make us consider he made the right choice by snubbing the Reds and signing a deal with Arsenal.
1. Luis Suarez's shoes are TOUGH to fill
It's no secret that Liverpool could have done better in the first half of the season with a quality striker just like Sanchez, who was intended to take Luis Suarez's spot in Brendan Rodgers' starting XI. Sanchez came from a season in which he won absolutely nothing with Barcelona, and to try and substitute a player such as Suarez would have been even tougher than getting minutes with Los Culés having Neymar and Messi around. Sanchez's ability to score relies on having someone else to clean the box so he can show his talent striking the ball, something that he would not have found with the Reds. That's the reason why Mario Balotelli and Rickie Lambert have not filled Suarez's shoes, and Sanchez needed to be out of the spotlight at first, so he could shine later. With Arsenal, Alexis can rely on Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck, and with the Reds he would have been left to do all the job by himself. So far, Sanchez has bagged in thirteen goals and dished out seven assists, proving he needs to be free up front to really make an impact, and Wenger knew how to take advantage of his skills.
2. Sanchez is playing the part he played with Udinese
One of the reasons Sanchez had to leave Barcelona was his lack of opportunities to shine. With the club's intention of signing Suarez made public, Sanchez had to search for a team that could help him develop his game, just like he did with Udinese. While playing for the Italian side, Sanchez was key to the club's build-up towards their opponents' net, while with Barcelona he just took whatever Neymar and Messi left for him. When Arsene Wenger approached his agent, Le Prof pitched Sanchez the chance to make him a better player, by using his skills in a way that the team got the most out of his performances.
"He had maybe not had the number of games he wanted at Barca and I tried to convince him that I could help him develop the quality of his game and that the way we play would suit him. That's why he chose us in the end," Wenger stated in an interview.
Sanchez's game has developed to be one of the most feared strikers in the world, a kind of status he lost while playing for Los Blaugranas. Now, the Gunners and his National Team can benefit from his current form.
Wenger and Sanchez during a training session
3. Always mind your surroundings
Everyone knows that Latin American players do not adapt easily to a culture such as the English. Some players are ready to make an impact practically coming off the plane, but generally that's not the case. Alexis Sanchez seemed to be aware of this situation, and took matters into his own hands while deciding where he would play. Newspapers in his home country pointed out his wife had the upper hand deciding where her husband was going to play, since she preferred to live in London rather than calling Merseyside home. Another thing that helped Sanchez make a better decision was the kind of players he would be surrounded by, in this case, he needed team-mates that shared most of his cultural background, starting with the language.
Sanchez is known to have locked a good friendship with fellow South Americans such as David Ospina and Emiliano Martinez. Furthermore, Mikel Arteta, Nacho Monreal, Santi Cazorla and Hector Bellerin share the same customs Sanchez is used to have around. These little details have helped Sanchez adapt to the excruciating playing style of the Premier League, being able to connect with his new team-mates just like he did when playing for Udinese.
Sanchez celebrates a goal with Santi Cazorla against Dortmund
Only time will tell if Alexis will be able to make way into the Gunners history, but personally, he is having one of the best seasons in his career, proving Wenger knew what he was doing when he approached the Chilean with the idea of signing for his club.
