Kenny Cunningham: Why this Arsenal star isn’t as good this season

Kenny Cunningham says Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez has endured a drop in his performance levels this season.

The Chile international is currently sidelined with a hamstring injury during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Norwich City at Carrow Road in the Premier League in November.

I thought his levels had dropped before this injury

Kenny Cunningham

Sanchez has managed to score a respectable six goals in 14 Premier League games for the Premier League title favourites.

Former Republic of Ireland defender Cunningham believes the 27-year-old midfielder has struggled to maintain his high standards from his first season in the Premier League.

“His levels have dropped this season,” Cunningham told Newstalk’s Off The Ball podcast.

“Even before his hamstring injury, he was struggling a lot. Early in the season, he was struggling a little bit.

“I think physically the amount of games that he has put in even with internationals has caught up with him. I thought his levels had dropped before this injury.”

Arsene Wenger confirmed that Sanchez is unlikely to return to the Arsenal side before 10 January after the forward suffered a setback in his recovery from injury.

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Sanchez moved to the north London side in a £35m deal from La Liga side Barcelona in 2014, becoming the Gunners’s second-most expensive signing of all-time.

The Chile international won the FA Cup in his first campaign at The Emirates, whilst Sanchez scored 16 goals in 35 Premier League appearances.