Alexis Sanchez is back in training after being handed an extended summer break, and Arsene Wenger knows that he may find the Chilean difficult to control (via Sky Sports).
The former Barcelona star has an incredible work ethic, and just wants to get involved as soon and as much as he possibly can. This isn’t always in his or the team’s best interest, as we need him fit and rested for the season ahead.
Wenger is well aware of Alexis’ mentality, and insists that this is the reason he was handed such a lengthy break.
“I am a bit worried, but on the other hand, I knew before the start that once he is here, he would be difficult to stop, so I gave him a long enough break,” Wenger said.
“Alexis works extremely hard in every single training session to show that he is ready.”
It was thought that the 26-year-old would miss the first few games of the season, as he was absent for the entirety of our pre-season campaign. Despite returning just a few days before the opener however, he was included in the match day squad and made an appearance from the bench.
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Wenger praised the tireless worker, and claimed that due to the training he’d done while on holiday he was already capable of contributing.
“He came back as well reasonably fit. He practiced for two weeks before he came back. He did not start from zero and in training now, he looks alright,” Wenger continued.
“You wonder if he has created a beach at home, and runs along the living room. He is a hyperactive guy. He needs that to be happy.”
The manager also backed Alexis to be even better this season than in his 2014/15, insisting that the Arsenal talisman is keen to build upon the FA Cup trophy he helped us win earlier this year.
“He is very ambitious, Alexis. He knows he won the FA Cup, now he wants to look to get more,” he finished.
“This season, he knows what is expected from him, and he will do better than last year.”
Alexis was nothing short of phenomenal in his debut season, scoring 25 goals in all competitions. He will have to be in fine form again this season if he wants to improve on that tally, but he’s more than capable of doing so.
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We don’t want to rush him back, but as Wenger says, it may be difficult to keep him sidelined. Hopefully he’s fully fit and ready to go, as we will need him firing on all cylinders this season.
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