Alexis Sánchez (Part 2)

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3 Apr 2024

Alexis Sánchez (Part 2)

Barcelona announced the acquisition of Alexis Sánchez from Udinese for a fee reported to be €26 million, with an additional €11.5 million in potential bonuses. This transfer made Sánchez the first Chilean player to join the prestigious club.
Barcelona's then-manager, Pep Guardiola, spoke highly of Sánchez, highlighting his versatility and defensive capabilities. Guardiola praised Sánchez's ability to play in various attacking positions and emphasized his direct style of play. He also commended Sánchez's character, describing him as a "very nice kid."
The transfer was completed five days later after Sánchez successfully passed a medical examination and signed a five-year contract with Barcelona. Expressing his excitement about joining the club, Sánchez expressed his eagerness to learn from established players like Lionel Messi and Xavi Hernández. He also conveyed his desire to contribute to the team's success by helping them win more titles.

During his debut season for Barcelona, Alexis Sánchez faced challenges due to short-term injuries. His first appearance came on 14 August 2011 in a match against Real Madrid in the first leg of the 2011 Supercopa de España, where he sustained a thigh injury following a challenge by Marcelo. Despite the injury, Barcelona emerged victorious in the tie with an aggregate score of 5–4. Sánchez returned to action two weeks later as a substitute in the 2011 UEFA Super Cup, which Barcelona won 2–0.

In his La Liga debut for Barcelona against Villarreal, Sánchez scored his first goal in a 5–0 victory. However, his progress was hindered when he was stretchered off the field after 30 minutes in a match against Real Sociedad on 10 September, following a challenge from Dani Estrada. Sánchez made his comeback on 1 November in a match against Viktoria Plzeň. Notably, he scored the equalizer against Real Madrid on 10 December in a 3–1 away win at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Additionally, on 14 February 2012, Sánchez netted his first and second UEFA Champions League goals in Barcelona's 3–1 triumph over Bayer Leverkusen.

Sánchez continued to make significant contributions to Barcelona's success. He scored the opening goal in a 2–0 away victory against Benfica on 2 October 2012 and secured his first league goal of the season in a 6–1 home win against Getafe on 10 February 2013. Throughout the season, Sánchez showcased his scoring prowess by netting goals against various opponents, including Deportivo de La Coruña, Mallorca, Athletic Bilbao, Real Betis, Atlético Madrid, and Espanyol. Barcelona ultimately clinched the league title, finishing the season with 100 points.
In the 2013–14 La Liga season, Sánchez continued to shine for Barcelona. He scored the winning goal in a 2–1 victory over Real Madrid at Camp Nou on 26 October 2013 and achieved his first hat-trick for Barcelona in a 4–0 win against Elche on 5 January 2014. Sánchez concluded the season with a career-high of 21 goals in all competitions, including 19 in La Liga alone.

Alexis Sánchez completed a transfer to Arsenal, signing a long-term contract with the club for a fee of £31.7 million. He was assigned the squad number 17, which was previously worn by Nacho Monreal. In his statement upon joining the club, Sánchez expressed his happiness to be joining Arsenal, citing the club's great manager, fantastic squad of players, massive global support, and the impressive stadium in London.
Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger lauded Sánchez's signing, praising his consistent top-quality performances at the highest level over several seasons. Wenger expressed excitement about integrating Sánchez into the Arsenal squad. Sánchez made his debut for Arsenal on 2 August 2014, appearing as a substitute during a 5–1 victory against Benfica in the pre-season Emirates Cup tournament.

Alexis Sánchez made a notable impact in his early days at Arsenal. His competitive debut came against Manchester City in the Community Shield on 10 August, where he played in the first half and contributed to Arsenal's 3–0 victory. In his Premier League debut against Crystal Palace on 16 August, he assisted Laurent Koscielny's equalizer in a 2–1 home win.
Sánchez scored his first goal for Arsenal on 27 August, securing a 1–0 aggregate victory over Beşiktaş in the Champions League qualifiers. Arsène Wenger praised Sánchez's performance, highlighting his technical skills and fighting spirit. His first league goal came in a 1–1 draw away to Leicester City four days later.

Continuing his scoring form, Sánchez netted against Manchester City, Southampton, Galatasaray, and Hull City, showcasing his versatility and goal-scoring prowess. He also contributed crucial assists, notably providing two assists for Danny Welbeck in a Champions League match against Galatasaray.
Sánchez's impact extended beyond scoring goals, as he demonstrated his ability to make decisive contributions in key moments, including scoring late winners against Burnley and Southampton. Overall, his performances in his debut season for Arsenal underscored his importance to the team and established him as a key player in the squad.

Alexis Sánchez made a significant impact in his debut season at Arsenal, showcasing his goal-scoring prowess and versatility. On 26 December, he scored the opening goal and assisted another in a 2–1 win over Queens Park Rangers, demonstrating his ability to influence matches with both goals and assists. In the FA Cup third-round match against Hull City on 4 January 2015, Sánchez scored and provided an assist, helping Arsenal progress to the next round. Continuing his impressive form, Sánchez delivered outstanding performances throughout the season. He was instrumental in Arsenal's victories over Stoke City and Liverpool, earning praise from former Arsenal player Thierry Henry, who hailed him as the club's best signing in recent years. Sánchez also played a crucial role in Arsenal's FA Cup campaign, scoring vital goals in the semi-final against Reading and the final against Aston Villa, where he became the first Chilean to score in an FA Cup final since 1952.

In the 2015–16 season, Sánchez continued to excel, scoring his first hat-trick for Arsenal in a Premier League match against Leicester City. He followed this up with impressive performances against Olympiacos and Manchester United, showcasing his ability to perform on the big stage. Despite a brief period on the sidelines due to injury, Sánchez returned to action with crucial goals against Burnley and Tottenham Hotspur, maintaining Arsenal's title challenge.
The following season, Sánchez's remarkable form continued as he scored goals consistently and provided crucial contributions in key matches. He was awarded Arsenal's Player of the Season award and played a pivotal role in Arsenal's FA Cup triumph, securing the club's record 13th FA Cup title. Sánchez finished the season as Arsenal's top goalscorer with 24 Premier League goals and 30 goals in all competitions, cementing his status as one of Arsenal's most influential players.