Number Talk: Alexis Sanchez vs Wilfried Zaha – Should Arsenal Target The Crystal Palace Star?
Arsenal are reportedly interested in a move for Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha. Ever since Roy Hodgson took over as the manager of the struggling Palace team, the former Manchester United player has been pivotal in sparking a miraculous rise out of the relegation zone. Prior to this, the Eagles were moored at the bottom of the league table for several weeks but are now relatively comfortable at 14th place. It is understood that his impact has attracted attention from Arsene Wenger as the Frenchman is keen on finding a replacement for contract-rebel Alexis Sanchez.
The Chilean is a key part of Arsenal’s team but he almost moved to Manchester City during the summer. The move fell through at the last minute and Sanchez had to stay back at the Emirates Stadium but the player seems like he is anything but happy.
His performances have been uninspiring and lacklustre, to say the least, and he is yet to sign a new contract with the Gunners. Wenger may not want him to leave but it seems like the most likely outcome at present. If that were to happen, Zaha could be a replacement but how do their stats compare? Let’s take a look.
Alexis Sanchez vs Wilfried Zaha
Having made 15 appearances for the Gunners in the Premier League this season, Sanchez has spent 1149 minutes on the field. He has scored 4 goals and 3 assists to show for his efforts, while also picking up 4 yellow cards. Averaging 3.5 shots per game, Sanchez has a pass success-rate of 72.7%. He wins about 0.2 aerial duels per game and has been named as the Man of The Match twice. The Chilean also makes 2.8 key passes and 1.9 dribbles per game.
Zaha, on the other hand, has appeared 12 times for Palace in the Premier League this season. He has also scored 4 goals but is yet to provide an assist. Having picked up one yellow card so far, Zaha averages 2.5 shots per game and has a modest pass success-rate of 66.2%. He wins about 0.1 aerial duels per game and has not received a Man of The Match award this season. The player also makes 1.8 key passes and 3.8 dribbles on an average.
Verdict
On paper, Sanchez will easily be regarded as the better player but the numbers show that Zaha is more or less on par with the Arsenal star. The Chilean obviously has more experience but for the Palace winger to almost match up to his level speaks volumes about what he can do if he were to move to Arsenal. Hence, given an option, Zaha could prove to be a viable option for Wenger when it comes to acting as a replacement for Sanchez.