After 9 years, Wenger has found the 'new Henry'

Alexis Sanchez has just completed 100 appearances for Arsenal. Looking back, everyone suddenly realized that the Chilean star is recreating what Thierry Henry experienced.

Wenger's successful gamble

Against Swansea, Alexis Sanchez had the ball on the right wing. He looked up, found Ozil and combined to create a beautiful goal with a millimeter-perfect chip. Not necessarily a goal, but still a huge contribution to the team's victory. That was how the Chilean star celebrated his 100th appearance in an Arsenal shirt.

Arsene Wenger has been desperate to bring a world-class striker to the Emirates this summer, and has been forced to play Sanchez as a centre-forward. Some said the gamble would end in failure, but so far the statistics have proven otherwise.

Sanchez has scored five goals in 10 games this season from just 20 shots (excluding blocked shots), a conversion rate of 25%. The 27-year-old's pace has left defenders stumped. If in doubt, just watch him dominate Gary Cahill and finish over Thibaut Courtois to open the win over Chelsea three weeks ago.

Sanchez strikes fear into opponents, regularly winning one-on-one situations with his skill and blistering pace. And if he doesn’t score, he helps his team-mates do it. The Chilean has five assists in all competitions and leads Arsenal in chances created (25, four more than Mesut Ozil) this season. Sanchez has changed Arsenal’s attacking play, providing a dynamic and creative centre-forward role that the Gunners have not had in nine years, since the departure of Thierry Henry.

Alexis Sanchez has speed and technique that is not inferior to Henry.

The Legendary Road

Henry, a winger, was surprised by Wenger's decision to put him in the striker position. Henry later became the London club's record goalscorer. He scored 48 times in his first 100 games, a number almost similar to Sanchez's (47). The difference was one goal in their first season. Titi scored 25 goals in the 1999/00 season while Sanchez scored 24 in the 2014/15 season.

When Henry left the Emirates, Arsenal fans all thought it would be difficult to find a “second Henry”. Only he could replace himself. That was when Wenger brought the legend back on loan for the 2011/12 season. Henry’s magical feet are simply irreplaceable in the minds of North Londoners.

And now, there is plenty of evidence that Sanchez is following in the footsteps of the French superstar. The 27-year-old scores, influences, inspires and turns games around in a matter of seconds. He has also struck up a perfect partnership with Ozil, much like Henry and Bergkamp did, to amplify his threat and lift Arsenal.

Apparently Sanchez found Henry's scepter in the Emirates dust and made it sparkle again.

According to bongdaplus.vn