Alexis Sanchez is on the same level as Luis Suarez... he can cause chaos against Liverpool, says Arsene Wenger

  • Arsenal face Liverpool at the Emirates on Monday night 
  • Alexis Sanchez scored 25 goals in his debut season for the Gunners 
  • The Chilean's move came one year after Arsene Wenger failed in his pursuit of Luis Suarez

Arsene Wenger believes Alexis Sanchez is as big a talent as Luis Suarez and has backed him to cause 'chaos' against Liverpool on Monday night. 

The Chilean scored 25 goals in his debut season for Arsenal and has been a revelation since joining from Barcelona last summer for £35million.

The winger's move came one year after Arsene Wenger failed in his pursuit of Luis Suarez, whose transfer from Liverpool to Barcelona enabled the Frenchman to sign Sanchez.


But after missing out on Suarez, Wenger believes he has found a player of equal ability in luring the South American forward to the Emirates.

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez (left) scored 25 goals in his debut season for the Gunners

Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez (left) scored 25 goals in his debut season for the Gunners

'They are at the same level,' said Wenger. 'Suarez is a central striker and Sanchez is more a wide player who likes to go up and down and is involved in dribbling.

'But they have similarities. In South America they are richer in strikers than Europe.

'You look at [Sergio] Aguero, [Lionel] Messi, Suarez, Sanchez, I could name many of them. They produce more than us and we have to look at ourselves and see how we can correct that.

'Sanchez has that desire to go forward and provoke. He is a guy who provokes chaos in the defences because he has a go at you.

'I have had players like that but he has the style. What Sanchez has is in the first two yards is he is lightning quick.

'He is already better than when he arrived. In his final finishing there is room for improvement, in his final ball he is already much better, his vision is quite good and incisive.'

Arsenal's opponents on Monday night, Liverpool, were also chasing Sanchez when it was touted that he could leave Barcelona last summer.

Sanchez signs an autograph for a young fan prior Arsenal's clash with Crystal Palace last Saturday 

Sanchez signs an autograph for a young fan prior Arsenal's clash with Crystal Palace last Saturday 

They were willing to match Arsenal's £35m bid and offer the 26-year-old a similar lucrative contract.

But Sanchez opted for a move to north London and Wenger says he was never concerned that Arsenal maybe beaten in their pursuit.

'No [I was not worried], because I met his agent in South America in Brazil at the World Cup, I had a few meetings with them, and I could see,' added Wenger.

'You never know how much people tell you the truth but at the start when I saw Suarez went to Barcelona I thought that is the obvious deal, one one way and the other, the other way.

'So I had not much hope and I was quite surprised that at the time it was possible.

Luis Suarez (left) chats with Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi during training in Sant Joan Despi on Saturday 

Luis Suarez (left) chats with Barcelona team-mate Lionel Messi during training in Sant Joan Despi on Saturday 

'It is new for us, there are two ways [a transfer can happen]. Before, when we were building the stadium, the big clubs came to buy the players from us, now we are in a position where we can keep our big players.

'But sometimes there are so many big players in the other big, big clubs who are good but do not play.

'So after a year or two you can get a good deal. Sanchez is a case. Pedro is another case, Arjen Robben is another, he was at Real Madrid, let's not forget.'

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