ARSENE WENGER has warned Alexis Sanchez he is not guaranteed to keep his new position as central striker when Arsenal's frontmen return to full fitness.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is happy with how Sanchez has made the transition from winger to central striker but insists his star frontman cannot expect any preferential treatment when it comes to rotating the squad.
Sanchez’s six goals have helped Arsenal progress on all fronts this season.
The Chile international’s importance to the side is clear – as is Sanchez’s desire to remain in the thick of the action.
The South American’s frustrated reaction to being withdrawn late in the victories over Swansea and Ludogrets spoke volumes.
But Wenger insists Sanchez, 27, will not be treated any differently to his team-mates and said: “He is not a special case. He is a player like everybody else.
“When I decide to take him off, I take him off. He has his own character but he is not treated differently from everybody else.
“We test the fatigue level of everybody. I tested Sanchez because he played two games in South America and sometimes I rest him straight away after. I played him the other day against Swansea so I thought I would take him off when it is possible.”
Injuries to Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck increased the responsibility on Sanchez to lead the attack during the opening months of the season and Wenger is convinced the player has now grown into a role he struggled to fill previously.
“I see him there, because he is the kind of guy who can make things happen,” said the manager. “He has a good technique and can always create something. He has a good mixture between scoring and giving the final ball.
“For my taste, he still comes too much to the ball, because Alexis Sanchez likes to have the ball. And we have enough playmakers in our team.
“We would want him to have a better balance, but we do not want to forbid him to come to the ball, but to get in a few more off-the-ball runs.
“But that’s why when we have Theo Walcott it balances well, because when he comes, Walcott goes. This is a good mixture, a good working unit."
Arsenal predicted line-up to face Sunderland
Fri, October 28, 2016Click through the gallery for a look at Arsenal's predicted line-up to face Sunderland
Click through the gallery for a look at Arsenal's predicted line-up to face Sunderland
Arsenal travel to Sunderland today (12.30pm) hoping to maintain the pressure on Premier League leaders Manchester City in the title race.
Another defeat at home for the Black Cats would equal the worst points return after 10 Premier League matches, matching Manchester City in 1995.
Facing a team aiming to go top and who have not lost since the first day of the season would not have been manager David Moyes' ideal choice of opponents.
“I think whoever was going to make this a better fix was going to take a lot of poison until you get to the other side,” said Moyes.
“I’m having to take my poison just now. I hope by the end, it goes away.
“Unless we were going to come in with big, big money and say ‘change this around, fix it”, it’s not going to happen overnight.
“We have a level of player to put in here, then we’ll have to put on another level of bricks, then another level. Sometimes this isn’t what people want to hear.”