Friday 14 April 2017 15:26, UK
Alexis Sanchez deserves to be among the nominees for the PFA Players' Player of the Year award, according to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
Sanchez is among the six contenders for the award alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Harry Kane, Romelu Lukaku and Chelsea pair N'Golo Kante and Eden Hazard.
The Chile international, whose contract expires at the end of next season and has this week been linked with Manchester City, has directly contributed to 40 goals in 41 appearances in all competitions this season.
"I'm very happy [Sanchez has been nominated] because it rewards a very strong season if you look at his numbers," Wenger said.
"His goalscoring record is good, his assists are good and I believe that the combination of goalscoring and assists always [showcases] the quality of a player."
Sanchez's tally of 18 league goals puts him ahead of Chelsea's Hazard and Manchester United striker Ibrahimovic in the Premier League scoring charts.
Asked how Sanchez has remained such a threat in front of goal, Wenger said: "Because he played at centre forward for a while and also because he has a short backlift, a good quality of reception, a good first touch and the focus needed to score.
"That means that he plays with a kind of aggressive attitude in the box which allows him to score.
"Unfortunately, he's a player who likes the ball a lot. He likes to touch the ball, so I would say he is more attracted to a wide position.
"He basically prefers to play wide rather than up front because he can get the ball more. He has to keep that balance between providing and goalscoring because he has both in the locker."
Wenger refused to expand on this week's reports that Arsenal have offered Sanchez an extension to his current contract worth £300,000 a week.
"First of all, I cannot confirm that we have offered that," he said.
"Secondly, as always, we have to consider our financial potential to sustain the wages for the whole squad.
"What is for sure is that what is paid per week today was 20 years ago per year. Will that continue to go up? I don't know. I'm always tempted to say no but I was wrong on that front."
