Analysis of Alexis Sanchez's performance during Arsenal's draw with West Brom

Sport360 staff 23:15 31/12/2017
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  • Alexis Sanchez scored again but his late goal was not enough for all three points against West Brom as Arsenal had to settle for a 1-1 draw.

    The Chile forward is out of contract in the summer and with the transfer window set to open tomorrow, the speculation regarding his future is sure to intensify.

    Here, Press Association Sport takes a look at how Sanchez performed at The Hawthorns.

    INVOLVEMENT

    Sanchez saw little of the ball during the first half, causing him to drop deep.

    But in doing so it further isolated Alexandre Lacazette and often Sanchez would surrender possession, failing to find a team-mate with a simple pass.

    He linked up well with Lacazette in and around the West Brom penalty area on one occasion in the first half but it ultimately led to nothing.

    The same two players combined just after the hour mark but Lacazette could only poke Sanchez’s clever little pass narrowly wide.

    FINISHING

    It took until the 50th minute for Sanchez to have a shot at goal.

    The 29-year-old stood menacingly over a free-kick just outside the penalty area in a central position but his effort struck the West Brom defensive wall.

    Twenty minutes later he saw a fiercely-struck left-foot shot from inside the box blocked at close quarters by Ahmed Hegazi.

    Having had a sighter, Sanchez scored with a free-kick from a near identical position with seven minutes remaining, although his shot did take a telling deflection en route to the net.

    BODY LANGUAGE

    Being on the periphery of the action does not suit Sanchez and at times the Chile international did look miserable and frustrated.

    However, you could not say it affected his effort. Sanchez did chase and put West Brom defenders and midfielders under pressure.

    He gestured at team-mates on more than one occasion after feeling they could have offered him a better option but this could not really be interpreted as petulance.

    OVERALL

    A quiet afternoon for Sanchez, but then Arsenal as a team were not really at the races.

    When things are not going according to plan Sanchez takes it upon himself to try to make something happen and ends up trying to do too much.

    He celebrated his goal with some gusto, however, along with the rest of his team-mates, which was not the case at Crystal Palace a few days ago.

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