Leicester City vs Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez set to continue in attack as Arsene Wenger rolls the dice

Wenger has been reluctant to use Sanchez as a number nine since signing him from Barcelona

Alexis Sanchez endured a difficult opening last weekend (Getty)

Alexis Sanchez is set to continue as Arsenal’s centre-forward when they travel to Premier League champions Leicester City on Sunday.

Arsene Wenger has been reluctant to use Sanchez as a number nine since signing him from Barcelona two years ago, only playing him there rather than on the left wing in an emergency. But Wenger is desperate to get more pace into his team, especially up front, especially with Danny Welbeck injured and Theo Walcott uncomfortable in that role.

That is why Wenger has moved Sanchez back there against Liverpool and he believes he is a long-term option through the middle. “I think it is worth trying as he has the quality to go in behind,” Wenger said, even while admitting Sanchez was not at his best against Liverpool last Sunday. “He did not have the most convincing game, and I think he is one of the players who is not completely ready.”

“We did not dominate the game [against Liverpool] as much as we would have liked in midfield, and he suffered a little bit from that as well,” Wenger said. “Sanchez has good timing to run behind the defenders. His run through in the first half, when [Nacho] Monreal gave him the ball and he was a fraction offside.”

Those runs are important, runs that Olivier Giroud is not quick enough to make. Arsenal need pace in behind to play their best football. “Sanchez and Theo Walcott have pace,” Wenger said. “Our game is linked with the speed of passing and the speed of movement and you need both.”

Wenger is confident that by using Sanchez as a striker he will make best use of his physical energy rather than having him chasing the opposition right-back all game. “On the flanks he uses a lot of energy by chasing back. I would like to use his energy sometimes a bit more efficiently by going behind the defenders as he is a good finisher. He has played centre-forward for Barcelona.”

Sergio Aguero and Luis Suarez who similarly tenacious explosive styles as Sanchez, and Wenger sees no reason why Sanchez cannot emulate their striking success. “He has similar qualities [to Suarez],” Wenger said. “He is technically top.”

Sanchez loves football and wants to play as many games as possible. Wenger naturally wants to pick his most dangerous forward as much as he can. The issue is when Sanchez’s body does not comply, and Wenger knows thy need to be cautious this year after Sanchez’s second successive victorious Copa America campaign.

“With him it is difficult to be careful,” Wenger said. “Last year sometimes I overplayed him a little bit. Alexis is always looking to stay on the pitch. Maybe I will have to rest him a bit more. When he came back he was not completely ready to be 100 per cent. This week he was already sharper in training.”