Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
Hey Arsene, you’ll miss me when I’m gone
Two-goal Alexis makes sure Wenger’s record 810th game is a victory to savour
ALEXIS SANCHEZ handed Arsene Wenger the perfect going-away present to sink Palace.
On a night when Wenger equalled Sir Alex Ferguson’s record of 810 Premier League games, the Chile hitman struck twice in four minutes just as Arsenal were wobbling at 1-1.
Sanchez is expected to leave Arsenal in the summer for Manchester City.
And last night he proved why Wenger would love to have him stay with the Gunners for years to come.
ARSENE WENGER equalled Sir Alex Ferguson’s managerial milestone with a typical Arsenal performance.
His team played brilliantly for 45 minutes only to waste chances, did their best to throw away the game and then won it with moments of magic from a genuine superstar.
Alexis Sanchez was back to his best with two superb goals and it was hard not to think it was the temperamental Chilean Wenger was talking about when he discussed the difficulties of management.
Wenger, who drew level with Fergie’s record of 810 Premier League games, said players could be “mean and selfish” but he was always determined to see a “light in every human being.”
That light feels as it has gone out in recent weeks as Sanchez has sulked, gone missing and looked as if his mind was elsewhere with his contract up in the summer.
But he had his best game in ages, was relentless in the first half and stepped up to the plate after Palace hauled themselves back into the contest. It was the kind of fighting spirit which has made Sanchez so good at Arsenal and he will go down as one of the best – and most difficult – players Wenger has had in his 21-year reign.
After a 3-0 defeat at Selhurst Park in April last season, when Arsenal fans turned on the players, it was hard to envisage Wenger staying on as manager. That loss prompted him to switch to a back three, Arsenal went on a long unbeaten run, lifted the FA Cup and Wenger signed a new deal.
He has been toying with formations recently, complaining a back three meant a lack of goals on their travels and accounted for just two wins away from home.
So it was a surprise to see him revert to a back three of Shkodran Mustafi, Calum Chambers and Laurent Koscielny for a game Arsenal had to win to keep the pressure on the top four.
But they found their rhythm and seemed to have extra men going forward as well as in defence, with Jack Wilshere pulling the strings in midfield.
They deservedly went ahead on 25 minutes when Granit Xhaka’s free-kick was not cleared, Alexandre Lacazette’s shot was parried by Julian Speroni and Mustafi steered home the rebound.
The Gunners could have had it wrapped up by half time, with Sanchez setting up Mesut Ozil who was denied by an excellent Speroni save. Lacazette twisted and turned before firing wide as Arsenal piled on the pressure.
Yet they wasted the best chance. Sanchez’s pass found Ozil and he went past Speroni but his heavy touch took the ball away from Lacazette and Hector Bellerin, who were queuing up to apply the finishing touch.
Palace were becoming frustrated and Wilfried Zaha was booked for dissent as the players left the pitch at half time.
Arsenal’s wastefulness came back to haunt them within four minutes of the restart. Zaha found an extra gear down the left, Bellerin was horribly exposed defensively and a clever cut back found Andros Townsend, whose fantastic low shot gave Petr Cech no chance.
Suddenly, the game was turned on its head. Zaha looked dangerous and Arsenal had lost their edge.
But as with all great players, Sanchez can conjure up magic from nowhere. Just as it looked as if Palace were taking control, Xhaka’s ball into the box found Lacazette who teed up Sanchez to squeeze a brilliant shot inside Speroni’s near post on 63 minutes.
Three minutes later, Wilshere’s stunning pass found Sanchez and he again beat Speroni. Typically, Arsenal made it a nervy finish when James pulled a goal back for Palace with an 89thminute header.