Analysing Alexis Sanchez’s statistical improvement for Arsenal this season

Add as preferred source on Google

Alexis Sanchez is one of the contenders to win the PFA player of the year award in May due to an improvement in his attacking output. He is set to record his best goal and assist totals since his move to England, highlighting just how good he has been this season. The Chilean has been played as a central striker in the majority of matches, which represents a change in role. He has mainly been used as a left inside forward since he arrived in England, but he has been given more freedom by Arsene Wenger and the Gunners have reaped the rewards on the pitch.

During the 2015/16 season, Sanchez contributed 13 goals and four assists. This isn’t a bad return by any means, but there was a general feeling that the Chilean international could do better. He has already surpassed his totals for both this season and we are only in February. Currently, he stands on 17 goals and eight assists. To put this into context, last season his goal involvement was one every 143.3 minutes. At the moment, he is playing a part in a goal every 85.7 minutes. That is a drastic improvement and underlines how deadly he has been in the final third since August.

The change of role has helped Sanchez get into more central areas, but the rest of the stats underline that it isn’t the only explanation for his upturn in form. He is actually averaging fractionally fewer shots per ninety minutes, as he now attempts 3.78 per ninety compared to 3.95 last season. Therefore, he is more clinical and that clearly shows the confidence that is radiating from his game at the moment. Moreover, he is having a bigger influence on the side’s attack as a whole, averaging 2.31 key passes and 2.65 chances created per ninety minutes. This is up from 2.14 and 2.29 last season.

For all of Arsene Wenger’s faults, he has identified Sanchez as the team’s best player and changed his role in order to get the best from him. The Frenchman deserves great credit for that. Sanchez has been incredible since August and these numbers clearly show that he has improved all aspects of his attacking game. The change of role has allowed him to get into more dangerous areas, but he has also become more clinical and added consistency to his game. He is now a world class player and the talisman for the of the best sides in England.

One aspect of Sanchez’s game that isn’t shown clearly in the stats is his work off the ball. Although he can be a frustrating figure at times, it is difficult to accuse him of being lazy on the pitch. He always looks to close opponents down and win the ball back, as shown by his 1.13 tackles won per ninety minutes, which is up from 1.11 last season. However, this is wasted in Arsenal’s team as Wenger doesn’t operate a pressing system. If Sanchez leaves this summer as expected, there won’t be a shortage of suitors as he is the complete footballer.

Alexis Sanchez has become a more influential player over the last 12 months. This isn’t a controversial observation and is one that anybody with an interest in football could make. However, the stats clearly show that he has improved across the board. He is creating more chances and scoring more goals, despite attempting fewer shots than last season. Sanchez has gone from being a very good attacker to a world class one. As a result, he has probably outgrown Arsenal and a summer move is likely, especially when his contract situation is taken into consideration. It will be a shame if he leaves, but it shows the problems that Arsenal currently face as they try to become a team that can challenge for major honours. Despite the team’s lack of success, Sanchez is an outstanding candidate to win player of the year and if he continues to perform as he has done, he probably will.

Featured image: All rights reserved by Stuart MacFarlane