Arsene Wenger sees similarities in 'lions' Alexis Sanchez, Jamie Vardy

Posted Friday, November 27, 2015 by ESPN

Arsene Wenger has praised the durability of Alexis Sanchez and likened the Arsenal forward to a hungry lion, while adding he thinks Leicester's Jamie Vardy is a similar kind of player.

The Chile international has been a key man in Wenger's squad since he was signed from Barcelona in 2014 and has nine goals to his name already this season.

Sanchez has been a major player for club and country of late and, having starred in his national side's Copa America success over the summer, has now been playing regularly for a number of months.

Wenger was asked why he did not take Sanchez off in Tuesday night's 3-0 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in which he scored two goals to keep the Gunners' Champions League hopes alive.

Having somewhat cryptically replied that Sanchez gets tired if rested, Wenger admitted ahead of Sunday's trip to Norwich that the 26-year-old is constantly surprising him with his eagerness to commit to the cause.

"When he does something he does it 100 percent,'' Wenger said. "So he finishes and you think, 'He's dead now.' But then he recovers and gives 100 percent again, so you always see signs of exhaustion, but it's not because two days later he's fine."

Arsene Wenger sees similarities in 'lions' Alexis Sanchez, Jamie Vardy
Arsene Wenger has likened Alexis Sanchez to a lion and thinks Leicester's Jamie Vardy is a similar player.

Wenger went on to compare his £30 million man to a hunting lion, likening his work-rate to that of Leicester's in-form Jamie Vardy.

"His style is very explosive and a very committed style,'' he said. "Vardy is a bit similar. They go when they go. They are like the lion, he has to catch the animal in the first 200 metres. If he doesn't get there, after he's dead. They are these kind of killers. When they go, it is to kill and after they have to stop."

Sanchez is likely to stay in the side for the game at Carrow Road, despite giving Wenger a scare with a hamstring issue after the Dinamo game.

"I will have to assess that a bit later," he said when asked about resting the player against Norwich. "It might not be the best moment to rest Alexis, but I don't know. He had a little hamstring alarm, but we will see how he recovers from that.

"I take information, especially from medical people who know him and treat him everyday, and after that we will look at his overall recovery as well."