COMMENT: Alexis Sanchez is often the barometer for the Arsenal Football Club.
More often than not, when Alexis scores, the Gunners win.
In the early stages of this season, the 26-year-old was well below his best after returning from Chile's triumph at the Copa America in July.
It took a little while for the former Barcelona man to hit his straps but once he did, Arsenal certainly reaped the benefits.
Sanchez announced himself to the 2015/16 Premier League season by ravaging Leicester City with a sublime hat-trick in a 5-2 win in late September.
The hard-working yet classy Chilean attacker was then on target in a disappointing Champions League defeat to Olympiakos and continued his red hot run when firing an early double in the dominant 3-0 win over Manchester United prior to the international break. Add to that the three goals in two games he netted for his country in World Cup qualifying wins including a double against Brazil, and it is safe to say the diminutive destroyer has hit his peak.
Sanchez's return to form has coincided with Arsenal's best two performances of the league campaign thus far which once again poses the question: 'Do the Gunners rely on him too much?'
Much was made about Arsene Wenger's reluctance to go after a quality goalscorer in the summer which indicates that the Frenchman was fairly happy with his attacking lot of Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud.
Obviously, Sanchez is not deployed as a central forward - as the aforementioned pair are - but his role out wide and cutting inside is enormously important as it fits in with the playmaking style of Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Aaron Ramsey.
In the 12 league matches that Sanchez scored in last season, Arsenal lost only once, further highlighting his importance to the side.
It would be unfair to label the Gunners a one-man team, as there is plenty of quality floating about at London Colney, but it is hard to look past the reliance Wenger's team has on Sanchez.
If he is to go down with a serious injury this season, there will be additional fingers pointed in Wenger's direction as to why a world-class attacker was not signed…or even considered.
Let's hope for Arsenal's sake that Alexis, who is as fit as a butcher's dog, remains running on top of the ground and operating in his customary aggressive manner otherwise any hint of a title hope will soon be put to bed.
That, or Mr Wenger opens the purse strings and shells out for a bona fide star in January, to keep the wolves at bay.
The time is nigh Arsene.
