The Alexis Sanchez conundrum: What has happened to the world beater we saw at Arsenal?

#3 Not the main man

Sanchez is no longer the big fish in the small pond at Manchester United

From 2014 to 2018, Arsenal certainly had many other good players - and like Alexis himself, some world-class talent. Giroud, Koscielny, Ozil, Cech, Ramsey, Lacazette, and Mertesacker were all players who had achieved some notable points in their careers.

However, Sanchez was Arsenal's major goal threat and their best player overall.

His man of the match display in the 2017 FA Cup Final win vs. Chelsea was a testament to this, and it was ironically this focus as the main man that triggered his departure.

At United, he is one of several other top players, and maybe the manner in which the team is constructed (and Mourinho's different managerial style vis a vis Wenger) restricts his ability to be the best on the field.

Given Sanchez's goal output, he may have had a near venerated status at Arsenal, in acknowledgement of this contribution. At United, and with Lukaku as the main goal threat, and Pogba as a recent World Cup winner, he may not be as critical to United's success. As not being the "main man", he may not have as much a drive to succeed or push himself.