Alexis Sanchez can still be relied upon when he's 'forced to play' as Arsene Wenger says he is always capable of delivering something special

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Alexis Sanchez can still be relied upon even when he's 'forced to play', according to former Arsenal defender Martin Keown.

Sanchez's stunning second-half strike took the lead for the Gunners against Cologne in the Europa League before Hector Bellerin sealed a 3-1 victory. 

The Chilean forward, who is out of contract at the Emirates next summer, was heavily linked with a move to Manchester City before this season started.

Alexis Sanchez scored in Arsenal's 3-1 victory over Cologne in the Europa League 

Martin Keown believes Alexis Sanchez will always deliver the goods while at Arsenal

Keown believes Sanchez performs at the highest level even when he is the subject of a possible transfer to a Premier League rival.

He said: 'I think Wenger has made it very clear. He wants the player in his team and when he's almost forced to play as he was then he comes up with the goods and there's no doubt he is still the outstanding player in that Arsenal team - and boy do they need him now because it's a massive game coming up at the weekend as well. 

'He's a little bit short of fitness but he's the sort of player who needs to play his way into fitness and he tries things all the time. He's a great talent.'

Sanchez's stunning right-footed strike put Arsenal into the lead in the 67th minute

Wenger also praised Sanchez after the game, adding that he wants to keep all of his best players at the club.

He said: 'We want them all here [Arsenal's top players] but I think still he is running after his best form because he is of course a fantastic football player but of course he just comes back but overall there is always something in his locker to deliver something special like he did.'