Alexis Sanchez is a good player.
James McClean is a tough f**king player. You put that together and, sometimes, you get nasty collisions.
You can’t condone a bad tackle, you can’t take any joy from a footballer as fine as Sanchez picking up an injury but James McClean has a big bloody heart and playing on that edge is what makes him James McClean.
Against Poland way back when Ireland were still chasing qualification for Euro 2016, it was the Derry man who changed the game and he did it the best way he knew how.
That tackle spurned the crowd at Lansdowne Road to get off their feet and roar Ireland back into a tie that was petering out and getting away from them. McClean wouldn’t let it.
So when West Brom welcomed Arsenal to town on Saturday, the question marks were over Tony Pulis’ side. They’ve already hit the magic 40-point mark, they’re not good enough to push on for Europe, so would they really give a shit? What are they playing for?
Well, men like James McClean cared and they made damn sure that the Baggies gave it a rattle. They made sure Arsenal knew they were there and they sure as hell weren’t going to let them walk all over them.
Alexis Sanchez has been in decent form this season.
🔥@Alexis_Sanchez has been directly involved in more @PremierLeague goals (scored 1️⃣7️⃣, assisted 9️⃣) than anyone else in 2016/17#WBAvAFC pic.twitter.com/b6Nz9KFWIv
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 18, 2017
So much so that people are questioning how much longer he can really stay at Arsenal.
The maths don’t really add up.
Make your call @Alexis_Sanchez pic.twitter.com/B9kamh6Pyh
— Aamir Khan (@aamirrkhann10) March 18, 2017
But now the Gunners are in sixth place in the league and potentially facing tough fixtures without the same guy who has made it feel like a one-man show during this campaign.
James McClean clattered into the Chilean during the first half of West Brom’s 3-1 win over Arsenal and, although it was late and a little reckless, it was a serious message of intent of how they would give the visitors no mercy.
The challenge was met with rage by the Arsenal fans and Arsene Wenger confirmed afterwards that the prognosis is not good – after Sanchez eventually gave up and came off after the break.
“He stayed on but, in the second half, he was not himself,” the manager said.
“His ankle doesn’t look good.”
McClean got the full 90 minutes of the win ahead of Ireland’s crunch clash with Wales at the Aviva on Friday.
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