Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez a contender to become next Premier League Player of the Year... at this rate, who could stop him?

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Early bets on next season's player of the year, anyone? A tenner on Alexis Sanchez could prove a shrewd investment, even with the new campaign still a month away.

First seasons in the Premier League are supposed to be transitional. Arsene Wenger will testify to that. Dennis Bergkamp, Thierry Henry and Robert Pires all felt their way into life in England.

We know how those stories end. Sanchez, though, is different; there's been no transitional period.

Alexis Sanchez scores his winning penalty of the Copa America 2015 final as hosts Chile won the tournament

Sanchez runs away in celebration after hosts Chile won Copa America after Sanchez's composed penalty

Sanchez lifts the trophy during their ceremony on the pitch as they beat Lionel Messi's Argentina on penalties

Sanchez has been outstanding for Arsenal and Chile, and could take the Premier League by storm next season

Performing in the Premier League came naturally to the Chilean; hitting the ground running to help Arsenal to third place and a second consecutive FA Cup.

So, if last season was a settling in period - then God help the rest of the Premier League next term.

His impressive year reached new heights this summer as he helped Chile to Copa America glory.

Arsenal fans will hope Sanchez can continue to ride on a crest of the wave that's made him one of the top performers in world football.

The down side of Chile's Copa America success for Arsenal is that Sanchez is very likely to miss the start of the season.

Wenger prefers to give his player at least four weeks rest over the summer, meaning the South American is almost certain to miss the season-opener against West Ham on August 9.

Likewise, once he's back in contention, it may take Sanchez a few weeks to go into overdrive.

But once he's recuperated and fully fit, Arsenal will have a bona fide world class talent to go straight back into the team.

Arsenal will hope Sanchez continues to thrive in the Premier League after an impressive opening season

Sanchez is proving a world class talent in attack and Arsenal will be keen to make a challenge for the title

There will be, of course, fears of burn-out. Following last summer's World Cup, Sanchez has had a second successive summer without a full break.

Logic says that the workload will eventually catch up with the former Barcelona man.

Arsenal, though, will ensure they take no risks with their superstar Chilean. Wenger, certainly won't.

The Arsenal manager knows what Sanchez means to his side. In short, he could be the difference between a sustained title challenge or yet another season of challenging for second, third or fourth.

That's how good he is. How many truly world class footballers ply their trade in the Premier League? Without doubt, Sanchez is on the list.

His boundless energy in attack and defence was a feature of Arsenal's game last season.

His ability to carry the team when they were under-performing - particularly during the opening months of the season - was similar to the way Steven Gerrard dragged Liverpool through games during his pomp.

Mikel Arteta and Per Mertesacker wear the armband. But there's an argument to say Sanchez is the true leader of this team.

The forward's boundless energy in attack and defence was a feature of Arsenal's games last season

Sanchez needed no time to adjust to life in England as his Arsenal career got off to an excellent start

'I'm a bit surprised (by his quick transition to England). It's because he has a particular mental strength,' Wenger said last year. 'He reminds me of the first generation of English players that I had - Lee Dixon, Steve Bould, Tony Adams, Nigel Winterburn, Martin Keown.

'This kind who is just ready for the fight. It's natural to Alexis. Every day he wants the ball. He doesn't walk out, he runs out.

'He has a natural level of energy that is unbelievable. You would love everyone to have that, but unfortunately it doesn't work like that.

'When you see where he has come from, where he was born, and then he plays for Barcelona and Arsenal, he needs to have something special.'

If Sanchez can take his performances to a new level next season, then we could all be in store for something special. 

Sanchez has been outstanding for club and country and will try to help Arsenal push for the title next season