Rio Ferdinand insists that Alexis Sanchez is the man running the Arsenal team
'He has taken it by the scruff of the neck...if they don’t start well, he is the one that will get them back in the game'
RIO FERDINAND believes Alexis Sanchez is "the catalyst, the talisman" that Arsenal players look up to for inspiration.
As the Gunners prepare for tonight's Champions League showdown with Basel at The Emirates, hotshot Sanchez is standing on five goals in just six appearances this season.
The Chilean also has a highly commendable 47 goals in 100 Arsenal outings.
On his arrival in 2014 Sanchez was played out wide but lately he has been used as a lone striker, or a false nine, and has displayed all the qualities that made Arsene Wenger sign him from Barcelona.
Chelsea certainly couldn't cope with him in a 3-0 defeat at the weekend and former Manchester United great Ferdinand insists he is the one who runs the Arsenal side.
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"Sanchez is the catalyst, the talisman they feed off for inspiration. He is the one that sets the tone for Arsenal now," said Ferdinand.
"Sanchez has taken it by the scruff of the neck and he runs that team. If they don’t start well, he is the one that will have the influence to get them back in the game.
"We saw at the weekend, the way he hunts to get the ball back, there are not many strikers that can do that from 20 yards away and still nick the ball off the centre-half and score."
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