The Arsenal manager revealed he has always been a fan of the dynamic Chile international but admits his enthusiasm makes him a difficult customer to manage sometimesArsene Wenger has revealed that watching Alexis Sanchez for the first time was like getting “slapped in the face” as he opened up about his first impressions of the Chile star.
The 27-year-old has been a revelation since his move from Barcelona in the summer of 2014 and Wenger has explained how his enthusiasm left a lasting impression on him after watching him during his time in Serie A with Udinese.
“He was very dynamic and direct and straight to the point. He was one of the players where the energy and intensity hits you straight in the face,” he told the club's official website.
“He is one of those players that catches your eye with his level of energy and commitment with everything he does. That is what remained with me.
“Afterwards when he went to Barcelona I found him a bit timid at the start. He wanted to adapt himself to the Barcelona style and he couldn’t express himself but slowly he got into that again.
“I saw him play for Chile against France in Marseille and I was very impressed. I always had him in my mind.”
Arsenal’s title challenge has faltered in recent weeks without Sanchez, who missed 11 games with a hamstring injury before he returned as a substitute in last weekend’s defeat at Chelsea.
The north Londoners will no doubt benefit from Sanchez’s eagerness to make an impact during the run-in but Wenger admitted the forward’s passion sometimes makes him hard to manage.
“His enthusiasm is absolutely amazing and his desire – he has a fear of nothing,” Wenger explained. “Yes, he is not an easy [player to manage]. He is easy because he’s always positive and difficult because when he needs to be rested he doesn’t want to rest. It’s as simple as that.”
The 27-year-old has been a revelation since his move from Barcelona in the summer of 2014 and Wenger has explained how his enthusiasm left a lasting impression on him after watching him during his time in Serie A with Udinese.
“He was very dynamic and direct and straight to the point. He was one of the players where the energy and intensity hits you straight in the face,” he told the club's official website.
“He is one of those players that catches your eye with his level of energy and commitment with everything he does. That is what remained with me.
“Afterwards when he went to Barcelona I found him a bit timid at the start. He wanted to adapt himself to the Barcelona style and he couldn’t express himself but slowly he got into that again.
“I saw him play for Chile against France in Marseille and I was very impressed. I always had him in my mind.”
Arsenal’s title challenge has faltered in recent weeks without Sanchez, who missed 11 games with a hamstring injury before he returned as a substitute in last weekend’s defeat at Chelsea.
The north Londoners will no doubt benefit from Sanchez’s eagerness to make an impact during the run-in but Wenger admitted the forward’s passion sometimes makes him hard to manage.
“His enthusiasm is absolutely amazing and his desire – he has a fear of nothing,” Wenger explained. “Yes, he is not an easy [player to manage]. He is easy because he’s always positive and difficult because when he needs to be rested he doesn’t want to rest. It’s as simple as that.”
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