Ever since Alexis Sanchez was moved from left wing to right wing last month, he has looked like a player rejuvenated after a barren run of form over the winter.

On Saturday, Watford simply had no answer for his movement, both on and off the ball.

Arsenal started in their usual 4-2-3-1 formation with Sanchez stationed on the right, and it was immediately clear that Watford’s left back, Nathan Ake, would be in for a torrid afternoon. He lost the Chilean on three occasions in the opening five minutes, the third of which led to Arsenal’s opening goal, finished at the second attempt by Sanchez after being picked out by a superb cross from Alex Iwobi.

He lost the Chilean on three occasions in the opening five minutes, the third of which led to Arsenal’s opening goal, finished at the second attempt by Sanchez after being picked out by a superb cross from Alex Iwobi.

After scoring, Alexis, Iwobi and Mesut Özil took turns to run at the hapless Ake, with Danny Welbeck doing diligent running up front to keep the centre-backs occupied. Even Hector Bellerin managed to get involved, thanks to Alexis drawing Ake away from his position time and again.

The second goal was a prime example of this. Bellerin made a simple overlapping run around Alexis, Ake left Alexis to mark the area Bellerin ran into, Francis Coquelin passes the ball into the area Ake should be standing in, Alexis runs onto it unmarked and picks out Iwobi for an easy tap-in. 2-0. Easy.

Bellerin made a simple overlapping run around Alexis, Ake left Alexis to mark the area Bellerin ran into, Francis Coquelin passes the ball into the area Ake should be standing in, Alexis runs onto it unmarked and picks out Iwobi for an easy tap-in. 2-0. Easy.

For months, Arsenal deployed Alexis on the left and in essence left him to work on his own. Now on the right, he’s surrounded by decoy runners and is being left to work in the chaos that comes with so many defenders chasing shadows around him. The more options you give Alexis, the better he plays.

Now on the right, he’s surrounded by decoy runners and is being left to work in the chaos that comes with so many defenders chasing shadows around him. The more options you give Alexis, the better he plays.

The more options you give Alexis, the better he plays.

The key benefit of having Alexis in the middle of so many attacks for Arsenal, is the attention he draws from defenders. By standing just on the corner of the opposition’s penalty area, he makes the defence have to choose between staying in their lines and giving him space or breaking those lines and marking him.

Neither of those are good options, especially when man-marking Alexis means giving more room for the likes of Özil and Iwobi to run into.

Watford tried man-marking him on some occasions, then leaving him free on others, but both tactics failed to keep the Chilean quiet.

It was one of those games when everything came off for him. His recent run of form may have come too late to help Arsenal’s title push this season, but playing Alexis Sanchez on the right should be a mainstay for the present and the future to come.

His recent run of form may have come too late to help Arsenal’s title push this season, but playing Alexis Sanchez on the right should be a mainstay for the present and the future to come.