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Cape Town - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has compared Alexis Sanchez to Barcelona striker Luis Suarez, and says he will utilise the Chile international in a more central role this season.
Wenger unsuccessfully tried to bring Suarez to the Emirates when he was on the books of Liverpool, with the Merseyside club famously knocking back a offer worth £40million plus one pound.
The Frenchman again attempted to strengthen in the striking department in the off-season, but was ultimately unable to secure a deal for Leicester City's Jamie Vardy.
As such, Wenger opted to play Sanchez in a central position in the 4-3 defeat to Liverpool in their Premier League opener, and will do so again when the London outfit lock horns with Leicester on Saturday evening.
When asked if he would continue to field Sanchez in a central role, Wenger said: "I think yes. I think it is worth to try as he has the quality to go behind.
"On the flanks he uses a lot of energy by chasing back and I would like to use his energy sometimes a bit more efficiently by going behind the defenders as he is a good finisher.
"He has played centre forward at Barcelona. He is technically top."
Wenger went on to compare Sanchez to South American counterpart Suarez, but also revealed he would be taking a more hardline approach to resting Chile international.
"He has similar qualities. And he has a good timing to run behind the defenders," Wenger added. "His run through in the first half when Monreal gave him the ball and he was just offside, a fraction.
"Let's see. It is interesting to see how well he copes with that. With him it is difficult to be careful.
"Last year sometimes I over played him a little bit and he is always looking to stay on the pitch. Maybe I will have to rest him a bit more, yes.
"When he came back (this summer) he was struggling a little bit (with an ankle injury) but he had a good rest, I gave him five weeks.
"But it takes him a bit longer because of that maybe too as he could not work and when he came back he was not completely ready to be 100%. I think this week he was already sharper in training."
