Arsenal analysis: Lethal Alexis Sanchez enjoying best ever season going into Chelsea clash

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Standard Sport23 September 2016

The jury may be out over whether Alexis Sanchez is truly the answer to Arsene Wenger's long-term search for a striker, but the Arsenal star is making his mark ahead of the Gunners' Premier League clash against Chelsea on Saturday.

Sanchez has scored four goals in six games so far this season for the Gunners, with the Chile international netting three in the Premier League as well as what could prove to be a crucial Champions League strike to earn a draw at Paris Saint-Germain.

The 27-year-old was rested for the Gunners' 4-0 EFL Cup demolition of Nottingham Forest on Tuesday, but will be ready for Saturday's Emirates tie against Antonio Conte's Chelsea.

Sanchez has kept both Olivier Giroud and £17million summer signing Lucas Perez out Wenger's first-choice XI so far this term, and statistics compiled by daily fantasy football game Oulala show just why the French coach has elected to keep the Chilean in a lone striking role.

While Sanchez clearly enjoys the freedom of playing out on the left flank rather than leading the line, the forward has become more ruthless in front of goal this term.

Sanchez's minutes per goals/assists ratio has dropped from 143 last season an impressive 97 this term, even bettering his debut season tally of 123.

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His shot accuracy has jumped from 54 per cent last term to 70% - again bettering his debut campaign tally of 62% - while his conversion rate has almost doubled from 12% in 2015/16 to 23% this season.

Though Sanchez is being asked to play a more disciplined role up front, his passing accuracy of 82% is now better than before, and he is completing more take-ons (65%) than in either of his last two campaigns in England.

with a goal every 130 minutes, Sanchez is on course to beat his tally of 13 last term and set a new personal best after netting 16 two seasons ago.

The only slight drop in performance levels so far has come in his assist rate, though that is to be expected given he is now the man expected to be getting on the end of chances rather than providing them from out on the left.

There may come a point at which Sanchez is eventually restored to the flank for Arsenal, but Wenger will be heartened to know that for Saturday's clash against Chelsea and familiar foe Diego Costa, the Gunners look to have a fearsome striker of their own in ruthless form,

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