When Arsenal signed Alexis Sanchez last summer from Barcelona, we knew he was good, but I don’t think many could’ve predicted the impact he’d have on the team.

The Chilean has netted 24 goals in all competitions for the Gunners this season and assisted 11, making it fair to say his first season in the Premier League has been a success.

In fact, the 26-year-old has been so useful that Arsene Wenger believes he could be his best signing since Thierry Henry.

Speaking recently, the Arsenal boss said, “Yes, he’s the closest maybe. He has similar movement and he’s a killer as well. He wants to always play and to always win. He’s highly focused and motivated.”

Alexis’ work rate and tenacity has been a huge boost for us this season. Even when the Chilean hasn’t been quite as lethal in front of goal as we’ve come to expect, he’s always been trying to help the team in whatever capacity he can.

He seems, as Wenger says, focussed and incredibly positive, even when facing criticism.

Although I realise the go-to compliment for any new player coming to Arsenal is to compare them to one of the Arsenal greats, in my opinion, Alexis is a unique player all of his own.

While I understand the need to form comparisons between old and new, I think it’d be far more useful to stay away from constantly bringing up past players when we have so much to look forward to in the future.