• Premier League

Start me anywhere apart from bench, says Sanchez

ESPN staff
October 9, 2014
Alexis Sanchez has hit two goals in five Premier League appearances for Arsenal so far © Getty Images
Enlarge

Alexis Sanchez has insisted he did not join Arsenal this summer to sit on the bench.

Sanchez moved to the Emirates from Barcelona in July for a fee in the region of £30 million and has made a lively start to life in the Premier League, scoring twice in five appearances so far.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has deployed Sanchez in a variety of attacking roles so far but controversially left him on the bench for the north London derby last month, with the forward coming on after the hour mark as Arsenal were held to a 1-1 draw by rivals Tottenham.

Although he admitted he is "slightly more comfortable" on the left, Sanchez has claimed that he does not care where he plays so long as he is in the starting XI.

"I can run and cut inside on my left foot, but any position is good for me as long as I'm playing football because I hate being on the bench," Sanchez said. "If you take me off it's like you're taking the ball off me.

"I want to win everything. Looking at the coaches and players we have, with a winning attitude and ambition, we can win absolutely anything."

Despite playing in the top tiers of Italian and Spanish football during spells at Udinese and Barcelona, Sanchez also dubbed the Premier League the toughest in the world.

"Compared to the other leagues I've played in, I think this is the hardest and I like it a lot, I really do," Sanchez added. "Before I signed, people had told me about how Arsenal were a big club with lots of quality players. Now I'm here I look at all the players during training and realise just what fantastic quality they all have."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd
ESPN staff Close

ABOUT COOKIES

To help make this website better, to improve and personalize your experience and for advertising purposes, are you happy to accept cookies and other technologies.

More Info Here Cookie Choices