Top 5 players who have scored the most late goals in Europe this season

#4 Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal) – 6 late goals

Alexis Sanchez has scored 18 league goals this season

Arsenal’s mercurial forward has been in scintillating form this season. Having banged in 25 goals in his first season with the Gunners, the Chilean looks set to eclipse that mark this season with at least 10 more games to go in all competitions.

Although he is only third in the Premier League Golden Boot race, he has nine assists to go with the 18 goals scored in the league. Only Romelu Lukaku has been involved in as many goals as Alexis this season but the Belgian has effectively played two games more than Alexis.

While a contract impasse gives Alexis more headlines than warranted, there is no question that the club would be nowhere near the top four without him. His frustrations and remonstrations saw Arsene Wenger bench him at Anfield, he quickly realised he needed his services and brought him on at half-time.

More often than not, Alexis completes the full quota of 90 minutes and it comes as no surprise that a third of his goals have come in the last 10 minutes. The most memorable goal was the 98th-minute winner against Burnley in a 2-1 win when Arsenal were down to 10 men.

Other opponents include Hull City (in the home and away fixtures), Bournemouth (in stoppage time) and West Ham (two late goals were part of his hat-trick in a 5-1 hammering).