Football
9y

Alexis Sanchez calls Arsenal teammate Santi Cazorla 'a spectacular player'

Arsenal midfielder Alexis Sanchez says he didn't know too much about his Gunners teammates when he arrived from Barcelona last summer, but one player in particular has left a lasting impression.

Sanchez has been Arsenal's star performer in his first season at the club, scoring 14 Premier League goals and playing a central role in their run to next month's FA Cup final and now he has picked out one of his midfield colleague for special praise.

"Santi Cazorla is a spectacular player," Sanchez told the Arsenal website of the 30-year-old Spaniard. "Although I knew about his quality, playing alongside him makes me very happy.

"You never know whether he will kick the ball with his right or left foot. Also, he moves with short but quick strides, which is a remarkable trademark too."

Sanchez is nominated for the PFA Player of the Year award that will be handed out in London on Sunday, with the Chilean reveling in his role as the leading light of the Arsenal push for success in the Premier League and FA Cup.

"When I arrived at the club I didn't know the players that well, but I was really surprised by everyone's quality," he added.

"I am not saying this just because it's my obligation to do it as a club player. Every Arsenal footballer has amazing quality. Being part of a team like this makes me very proud. I am willing to win many titles here.

Meanwhile, Gunners boss Arsene Wenger offered an insight into his training ground methods, as he suggested he pushes his players harder in the build-up to matches as he hopes that will stand them in good stead when they take to the field for real.

"The general plan is to play in training like you do in the game, or even harder," Wenger told the Arsenal Magazine. "But some days you have to ease off completely and not have the intensity because you need to recover after games. Basically you need to give the players the same intensity that they will face in a game.

"Even the day before a game you can think to yourself: 'That intensity is absolutely amazing, the players are ready to go out tomorrow and perform at that level.'

"The team always gives you a vibe in training, like a weather forecast. Sometimes you think: 'Yes, that's right, they are there.'

"Or other times you think: 'Nope, they have switched off, they'll have to work on their concentration otherwise they will have a disillusion on Saturday.'

"It's never set though, you always have to adjust it a little bit because every day you face a different problem. Sometimes its physical, sometimes it's the concentration levels, sometimes it's the harmony within the side.

"Sometimes it could be one or two players who are disillusioned. These can all pull the energy levels down so you always have to correct and adjust things to get it right for the next game."

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