by Lee Hurley

Santi Cazorla has been praising Alexis Sanchez in the Spanish press, highlighting the shadow of Lionel Messi at Barcelona which hid the Chilean’s talents.

Picking up the player of the season award from the Arsenal fans in his first season, Sanchez was a revelation and it is clear that his teammates at the club love him already.

Lifting the entire squad up to another level with his intense industry on the pitch, we have seen the benefit of bringing in a world class player to supplement the talent we already have at the club.

“I think the he has been the great player that he is,” Cazorla told Fox Sports in Spain. “In Barcelona he always played in the shadow of Lio.

“Here he is comfortable, he is a landmark.”

Currently on international duty with Chile at the Copa America, Sanchez will not be taking part in pre-season with Arsenal this season and it remains to seen what effect the continuous football calendar will have on him for next season.

Then again, he was practically dead on his feet towards the end of last season and still managed to score one of the greatest FA Cup final goals of all season.

Tiredness is nothing.