Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has received heavy criticism of late.
When writing his regular team of the week column for BBC Sport, Garth Crooks suggested that Arsenal are a team who lack bottle, and that Alexis Sanchez is arguably keeping Arsene Wenger in a job single-handedly.
The Chilean has been sensational for the Gunners this season, scoring 17 goals and registering eight assists in 25 Premier League outings, and quite where his team would be without him doesn’t bear thinking about.
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He scored both goals against Hull City on Saturday, during Arsenal’s 2-0 win that saw them jump back up to third in the table.
And Crooks, who spent five years with the Gunners’ fierce rivals Tottenham, highlighted Sanchez’ importance to Wenger’s side, when writing his column for BBC Sport:
Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez
“Is Alexis Sanchez keeping Arsene Wenger in a job? If Arsenal had lost to Hull at home, and they could have if not for Petr Cech in goal and Sanchez up front, the calls for Wenger’s departure might have become unbearable. Sanchez and Cech are the only two consistent performers in a team full of ability and short on bottle. Sanchez seems like the only outfield player at Arsenal that actually appears to want to win something and not just settle for fourth spot. What is clear is that Arsenal need to keep Sanchez whatever happens. Anything that can be done to achieve that will probably save Wenger from any further criticism.”
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger sat in the stands
Sanchez is undoubtedly one of the league’s best players, but it is a little harsh to suggest that Wenger might have lost his job without the 28-year-old in his side.
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The north Londoners are still inside the top four, with just 10 points separating them and league leaders Chelsea, and with 13 games still to go, the Premier League title race is far from over just yet.
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