MX23RW : Wednesday, December 11 18:27:37| >> :120:15065:15065:

Arsene Wenger admits Alexis Sanchez doubts

Wenger admits Alexis Sanchez doubts
© SilverHub
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admits that he had doubts about Alexis Sanchez's ability to play as a main striker in the Premier League.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that he doubted whether Alexis Sanchez could play as a main striker in the Premier League.

The Chilean has established himself as Arsenal's leading marksman so far this season, with his hat-trick during last weekend's 5-1 victory over West Ham United taking his tally to a joint league-high 11 goals.

Before this season, Sanchez had spent most of his Arsenal career in a wider role, but Wenger is happy with how he has adapted to playing through the middle after some less successful auditions in previous years.

"I must honestly say I thought many times when I played him last year or two years ago I was wrong. The few experiences I attempted with him through the middle were not convincing and I remember even in one game I changed it at half time. This year it clicked very early in the season," he told reporters.

"He has developed very well as a centre forward because I think he has found a good mixture between being coming off and going in behind and he has more freedom as well and he takes advantage of his short technique in the middle much more. I had to persuade Thierry [Henry to move centrally]. I don't know if it's my greatest achievement. You see the guy who plays wide can score goals that he can in the centre score even more goals.

"At the start of the season when he came back and he took advantage of the fact [Olivier] Giroud was not here and not ready so I could give him more games. Sometimes when you have too many people you cannot lost long an experience that is not immediately conclusive because you are under pressure. It doesn't work one or two games and you have a top player on the bench you're tempted very early to change it."

Sanchez is already just two goals short of his Premier League tally for the whole of last season.

ID:287035: cacheID:287035:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2813:
Written by
Barney Corkhill
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Olivier Giroud celebrates with Arsenal teammates Mesut Ozil and Theo Walcott after scoring against Manchester City in the Premier League on December 21, 2015
Read Next:
Walcott 'understands' Giroud frustration
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool14112129111835
2Chelsea1594235181731
3Arsenal1585229151429
4Manchester CityMan City158342721627
5Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest157441918125
6Aston Villa157442323025
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton156632522324
8Bournemouth157352320324
9Brentford157263128323
10Fulham156542220223
11Tottenham HotspurSpurs1562731191220
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle155551921-220
13Manchester UnitedMan Utd155461918119
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham155372028-818
15Everton143561421-714
16Leicester CityLeicester153572130-914
17Crystal Palace152761420-613
18Ipswich TownIpswich151681427-139
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves1523102338-159
20Southampton1512121131-205


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!