In fact, he could have been their captain for the past couple of years – possibly even should have been.

Like it or not, Sanchez is a cut or four above the rest of his Emirates team-mates - in terms of class, energy, desire and productivity.

He was against Cologne two weeks ago. He was in the 2-0 victory over the Baggies on Monday evening.

The truth is Sanchez, with a staggering 73 goals in 138 appearances, has been the Gunners’ spiritual leader on the pitch ever since swapping Barcelona for Islington in the summer of 2014.

So why this has never been recognised in an official capacity off it is really rather baffling.

Who knows? Had Arsene Wenger bestowed the armband honour upon Sanchez when he was doing everything to deserve it, he may well have signed up for another stint with the club many moons ago.

As it is, the 28-year-old hitman is in the N5 wilderness, soon to be out of contract and free to talk to future employers - no matter who they are, no matter how much his current manager objects.

If Arsenal retained some power over Sanchez in the summer, they have absolutely none now – other than the threat he is no longer a first-team regular.

Yeah right! No way can the fifth best team in England last season afford to leave out their most important player of the previous three.

He may be tricky and temperamental but Sanchez is the team’s driving force, a character that never concedes defeat, who never stops weaving and twisting in search of some magic to turn a contest.

Certainly, on the evidence of his tireless display against West Brom, being difficult does not come into it.

Anyway, the reality in football is you make exceptions for such ridiculous talents. You do everything to ensure they feel the most loved soul on your planet.

Take Eric Cantona at Manchester United in the 90s. The King was allowed to get away with the lot, including his kung-fu assault on a Crystal Palace fan, because whenever he wore red he invariably delivered.

As soon as Alex Ferguson had the opportunity, he made the Frenchman his skipper and, by and large, it was a beautiful partnership.

Wenger had the chance to do the same with Sanchez two years ago but failed to seize the moment. A year later, he again declined to do so.

Instead, the genius South American saw both Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny named ahead of him.

Crikey, there was even one laughable occasion in January 2016 when Mertesacker handed Theo Walcott the armband in the Emirates tunnel before facing Chelsea…because it was the Englishman’s tenth anniversary at the club.

That Walcott seemed to have been injured for about eight of those years escaped the big German’s mind, which was so scrambled that afternoon he was sent off after 18 minutes.

Walcott was subbed on 75. The Gunners lost 1-0. Yet Mertesacker remained Wenger’s numero uno.

Or, when he was always injured, Koscielny got the job. Or, when both were out long term – a la the start of 2016-17 – no deputy was officially nominated.

Now, we cannot claim Sanchez would definitely have committed his future to Arsenal had he been the chosen one.

The prolific Chilean has, after all, rejected the largest pay packet offered in the club’s history.

However, you have to imagine it would have at least helped those contract negotiations - and made the £300,000-per-week salary on the table sparkle a little brighter.

We will never know, of course, and, as a result, Arsenal fans probably have only a few months left to appreciate the most magnificent jewel in their crown.

Enjoy him while he shines!