Arsenal legend Ian Wright thinks that Alexis Sanchez might be a luxury the Gunners can't afford against the big sides like Chelsea and Liverpool.

The Chilean started on the bench in the recent goalless draw at Chelsea – a performance rated by many as the Gunners' best against a top side in the recent past.

Wright says that Sanchez has a tendency of losing the ball, and it could cause huge problems against the big sides.

"If [the Chelsea draw] was a glimpse of a future without Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil, then maybe it is not such cause for gloom and doom," Wright wrote in his column for The Sun.

"Everyone knows how highly I rate Sanchez and I'd like to see him play as much as possible before moving on.

"But you do wonder if he is a luxury you cannot afford in games like the ones against Liverpool and Chelsea.

"And I'm not just saying this because of their goalless draw at the Bridge — I've thought this way for a while.

"Sanchez will get you wonder goals, like he did against Cologne in the Europa League, but he does lose the ball a lot when he cuts inside.

"And that can spell real trouble. You can get away with it against most teams and, like I said, the good far outweighs the bad stuff with Sanchez.

"But the top teams will punish you, especially if the midfield men have pushed up to support him.

"He's going to be out of the door soon — and we have to deal with that."