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Arteta - Alexis is a bull on the pitch

Mikel Arteta says playing with Alexis Sanchez is easy - because he is “a bull who goes again and again”.

The Chile international has scored 10 goals in his last 12 games for the Gunners, and bagged a brace in Saturday’s 3-0 win against Burnley.

Arteta has been taken aback by the speed of the forward’s adaption to life in England, but puts it down to his determination to improve.

"He's a bull - he goes again and again. That's the only secret with Alexis, he wants to get better and better. That's the way he is"

Mikel Arteta

“South Americans in England normally find it a bit hard,” the captain said. “When you're an attacking player and people are expecting a lot from you, sometimes it's even more difficult.

“He's a bull - he goes again and again. That's the only secret with Alexis, he wants to get better and better. That's the way he is.

“I don’t think we are surprised by his performances but we are with how he’s adapted to the Premier League.

“As the boss said, he found it a bit hard in the first few weeks but now he’s found the platform and the confidence and physically he is the level he needs to be at because his game is very demanding. The way he’s contributing to the team and the spirit of the group as well is very good.

“It is easy and nice [to play alongside him], because it makes our job easier when you have a player in his form scoring goals for the team. It's very helpful, but as well how he looks after the people around him and [the hard work] he does in every game is something we need to highlight.

“He gets more highlights with his goals, assists and his tricks, but his hard work and his [work] ethic in every game is very important as well.”

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