Workaholic Alexis Sánchez needs a rest.

On the face of things, this isn’t opportune timing for this argument in the wake of the 2-1 win over QPR, but Alexis Sánchez needs a break.

Playing purely from the left hand side on Wednesday night, he comes inside all too often, taking too many touches, and rarely using a simple pass.

At Loftus Road, the only time Alexis laid the ball into the path of an overlapping player led to Olivier Giroud’s opener.

His goal itself was sublime, but the Chilean’s moments of excellence have been few and far between in recent weeks.

With Theo Walcott, Danny Welbeck, and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the bench on Wednesday night it is not as if Arsène Wenger is short on options.

The manager does, however, seem reluctant to give Alexis some time off.

It would come as no surprise if Alexis bugging Wenger to select him, posturing that he’s in peak physical condition and eager to play.

The Arsenal manager has already expressed how difficult it is telling Alexis he can’t play, and perhaps that’s holding him back.

With Aaron Ramsey returning, and Jack Wilshere soon to follow, Santi Cazorla may also be moved back out wide again. Alexis isn’t producing as much right now and some time off – even just not starting every now and then – would do him the world of good.

Arsenal look more of a threat when Alexis is direct, yet from the left wing he always looks to come inside to join in more with play. He’s becoming a bit predictable and isn’t displaying short, sharp bursts of pace quite so often.

A match-winning moment rewarded Wenger at Loftus Road, but he may come to regret the decision to keep Alexis in the starting XI each and every game if the Chilean begins to underperform, and would certainly regret it if the mercurial talent picked up an injury.

This summer sees the Copa America played in the Chilean’s home country. After a busy World Cup last summer, he won’t have any sort of break for another year.

Leaving Alexis out a little more frequently will be more rewarding than damaging for Arsenal in the long run.