Middlesbrough 1-2 Arsenal
Where would Arsenal be without Alexis Sanchez?
That is exactly the thought I had in my mind as I began to pen this article.
For surely betting odds on the Gunners and their sports betting backers would have long drifted away but for the world-class Chilean.
That’s because he, almost single-handedly at times, has kept the under-achieving north Londoners in with a chance of a return to the Champions League.
This Easter Monday down at the Riverside was further proof of that.
His free-kick just before half-time was superb, and he then had a hand in Mesut Ozil’s winner with a pass which unlocked the home defence as Arsenal moved back up to sixth.
He may have conceded possession which led to the Middlesbrough equaliser – Alvaro Negredo’s close-range finish providing just the 23rd goal Boro have scored in the Premier League all season.
But his attributes more than make up for the odd careless moment.
Indeed, to answer my opening question, take Sanchez out of the team and you would bet online on the Gunners on significantly fewer occasions.
They certainly wouldn’t have returned south with all three points from this one without him.
Even against a Middlesbrough side which put in a lot of effort but largely lacked that bit of quality and need a quick turnaround if the club’s return to the top flight isn’t to be a brief one.
That Arsenal did win what was a must-win for both teams was largely down to Sanchez as Arsene Wenger changed his side’s shape and ended a run of four straight away defeats.
Just where would Arsenal be without Alexis Sanchez?
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