Being injured is obviously a very frustrating time for any footballer. However, if there's perhaps one benefit from such a predicament, it's that it allows you to gauge how well your teammates are playing from the vantage point of the sidelines.
With that in mind, Arsenal club captain Per Mertesacker, who isstill carrying an injury from pre-season, has had the perfect view ofAlexis Sanchez's scintillating form for Arsenal.
Sanchez has gone up a level since Wenger made him the team's spearhead and lone striker, making the most of his tireless energy and pure passion for playing football.
Speaking to Arsenal's matchday programme for Wednesday's EFL Cup quarter-final against Southampton,Mertesacker has had his say on the Chilean and clearly believes his natural qualities of skill and energy are having a positive effect on the entire team.
Alexis is a perfect example of that point,� the 32-year-old Mertesacker opined.
He has got a special inner will and conviction that he can always make the difference at any time.
Even when he looks exhausted “ and he has played a lot of games “ he has always that inner will and he carries that all the way through, no matter what minute we're in.
"He always wants to win and that's a very good quality for the team to have. It helps makes the difference.�
Alexis Sánchez has been directly involved in 4 goals in 5 group stage games for Arsenal this season (2 goals, 2 assists). 💪 #UCL pic.twitter.com/B2JDk4UdiR
So far, Sanchez has eight goals in the Premier League in only 13 appearances and has created 30 chances for his teammates. Arsenal have 28 points and currently sit fourth in the table, three points behind league leaders Chelsea.
The Gunners face West Ham away at the weekend before completing their Champions League group stage matches away to FC Basel on Tuesday.