Arsene Wenger has explained why he believes Alexis Sanchez is struggling at Manchester United, saying the Chilean is suffering from a loss of confidence.
Sanchez became one of the Premier League's biggest stars under Wenger's management at Arsenal, scoring 80 times in 166 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners.
However, the Chilean, who made a controversial move to Old Trafford in January, has looked a shadow of the player he was at the Emirates at United.
The 29-year-old has found the net just four times in 27 appearances since joining United and has even been dropped on occasion by Jose Mourinho this season.
Some have suggested Sanchez is already in physical decline but former boss Wenger thinks his problems are all mental.
‘I believe he has lost confidence,’ Wenger told beIN Sports. ‘The strength of Alexis Sanchez is to take initiative to dribble and to take people on.
‘Those are the players who are most vulnerable when they lose confidence their game is based on that and having that feeling to take initiative, he has lost that slowly.
‘Since the start of the season he had a high level of physical energy but he has lost that as well.
‘Certainly he is refreshed now because Mourinho left him out for a while.
-Dailymail