By Lloyd Webb
Barcelona midfielder Andres Iniesta says Alexis' “unpredictable" playing style makes him such a dangerous opponent.
The Chile international spent three years at the Nou Camp and won six trophies before moving to Arsenal in 2014.
Alexis will face his former team-mate in the Gunners’ Champions League last-16 first leg on Tuesday night, and Iniesta is well aware of his qualities.
"I think they’re a very dangerous opponent"
“What makes Alexis so dangerous is that he is unpredictable,” the Spaniard said. “When he dribbles, when he attacks, he is a very strong player.
“He’s got skill and when he has the ball he always creates doubts. In that sense, we have to try to make him feel uncomfortable on the field and try to minimise his strengths.”
Iniesta is expecting a tough challenge against the Gunners, having faced them a number of times in the Champions League.
“Arsenal are known for having a style of play, a way of understanding football through having the ball,” he said. "I also think that the type of players that their coach or that Arsenal look for are very similar.
“I think their strong spots are their quality, their talent and the way they play. The way they attack, they way they combine. I think they’re a very dangerous opponent in that sense.”
Copyright 2024 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.