David Silva can’t speak highly enough of Alexis Sanchez’s achievement in making a seamless transition from Spanish football to the Premier League.
He made the same step successfully back in 2010 when he joined Manchester City from Valencia, and fully appreciates the Chilean’s instant impact on the Arsenal team.
Sanchez has hit the ground running, scoring 12 Premier League goals and 18 in all competitions following his £35m summer move from Barcelona.
But the City forward is backing his team-mate Sergio Aguero to win the head-to-head between the two in-form South Americans at the Etihad Stadium this afternoon.
And after chipping in with six goals himself this season, Silva is hoping to continue to make the most of a recent switch to a more central position.
“Alexis a fantastic player,” says Silva. “He’s having a great season and helping his team a lot. Let’s hope that, against us, it’s not his day!
“I think he deserves a lot of credit for the way he’s adapted to the Premier League.
“To add to his skill, he’s got a huge hunger for the game and I think that’s very important. I think he can be a good player in this league for a many years to come.
“But for us it’s very, very important to have Kun back. He’s a key player and he brings us a lot of points.
“Wilfried Bony is similar to Kun, because he scores plenty of goals. Let’s hope we can get him on board as soon as possible and in the side.
“Hopefully he can be a decisive signing and will help us to go on and take the title.
“But it is also very important for me to score goals and it’s helped that I’m playing closer to the opposition goal and a little more central.
“You’re always trying to improve everything but if you can improve your goal scoring rate that’s fantastic.
“I’m very happy, not just with my form this season but all the years that I’ve been here. I’ve always strived to improve and I think I am continuing to do that.”
Silva is well aware of the threat that Arsene Wenger’s team bring to City’s title hopes, even though his side are unbeaten against the Gunners in three seasons.
“Last season we won this fixture 6-3 and it was a great game. It was a very, very open. I hope it can be another occasion like that.”
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