Ozil finally returns but Alexis remains king of Arsenal
The only smoke this week came from the back of Alexis Sanchez’s jet-heeled boots.
As Arsenal moved within striking distance of a place in the top four with this 3-0 victory over Stoke, Alexis took his breathtaking season to a new level on Sunday.
The build-up to this game was dominated by stories of Wojciech Szczesny’s cheeky cigarette after a defeat to Southampton in Arsenal’s last league outing. The goalkeeper paid the price as he was dropped for David Ospina.
But Ospina had so little to do he might as well have sat back, smoked a cigar and admired Alexis’ brilliance.
The Chilean scored twice and provided the assist for Arsenal’s other goal as they overtook bitter rivals Tottenham in fifth place. Every time he touched the ball, the stadium buzzed with anticipation. He is playing like a man who believes he can do anything with the ball at his feet.
In the stands sat Thierry Henry, possibly the greatest striker in Arsenal’s history.
Off the bench came Mesut Ozil, their most expensive ever signing.
Alexis, though, is the king in north London right now.
He has scored 18 goals and has nine assists to his name from 30 games in all competitions for his new club.
The only smoke this week came from the back of Alexis Sanchez’s jet-heeled boots.
As Arsenal moved within striking distance of a place in the top four with this 3-0 victory over Stoke, Alexis took his breathtaking season to a new level on Sunday.
The build-up to this game was dominated by stories of Wojciech Szczesny’s cheeky cigarette after a defeat to Southampton in Arsenal’s last league outing. The goalkeeper paid the price as he was dropped for David Ospina.
But Ospina had so little to do he might as well have sat back, smoked a cigar and admired Alexis’ brilliance.
The Chilean scored twice and provided the assist for Arsenal’s other goal as they overtook bitter rivals Tottenham in fifth place. Every time he touched the ball, the stadium buzzed with anticipation. He is playing like a man who believes he can do anything with the ball at his feet.
In the stands sat Thierry Henry, possibly the greatest striker in Arsenal’s history.
Off the bench came Mesut Ozil, their most expensive ever signing.
Alexis, though, is the king in north London right now.
He has scored 18 goals and has nine assists to his name from 30 games in all competitions for his new club.
For many foreign arrivals, the first season in England is considered a bedding in period.
Not for Alexis, who has already gone some way to paying back the £35 million Arsenal paid to sign him from Barcelona in the summer. Still just 26, he is worth twice that now. The forward has been the best player in the country this season and will only get better.
He thrives on having the team built around him and on being given the freedom by Arsene Wenger to move all over the pitch.
Wenger has said a number of times that Alexis is playing in the ‘red zone’, taking his body to its limits and risking muscle injuries. But you wouldn’t know it from the way he plays, with more energy, drive, speed and courage than anyone on the pitch here on Sunday.
Alexis was at the heart of everything good about Arsenal. Within minutes, he forced Asmir Begovic into his first save of the day with a low curling shot that had the Stoke goalkeeper at full stretch.
In the sixth minute, he whipped in a fine cross from the left for Laurent Koscielny to powerfully head home Arsenal’s opener.
The Chilean stretched the Gunners’ lead before half time as he cut inside and fired in superbly at the near post following a sharp one-two with Tomas Rosicky.
Then, four minutes after the restart, Alexis scored his second of the afternoon and 18th of the season as he squeezed a free kick through the wall and into the net via a combination of post and goalkeeper.
He had won the free kick himself, of course. As the hosts cruised towards full time, it was still Alexis who lit up the Emirates, putting Theo Walcott through on goal only for the substitute to scuff horribly wide.
The result leaves Arsenal fifth in the Premier League table, two points ahead of Tottenham and within striking distance of Manchester United and Southampton in third and fourth.
The introduction of Ozil after three months out with damaged knee ligaments provided another welcome boost for the Gunners and the German looked tidy as he built up his match fitness.
Even when he returns to full fitness, though, Ozil will find himself as part of the supporting cast for leading man Alexis.
And with Alexis the star turn - a man who can make the difference more than anyone else in the division - Arsenal have no excuse not to move into those Champions League places with the same ease with which they won this match.
Arsenal Vs Stoke City
Manchester United Vs Southampton
Photo finish: Totti takes selfie after scoring Roma equaliser
