Sanchez Has Qualities of Theo Walcott - Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger believes summer signing Alexis Sanchez has the qualities of Theo Walcott.

The Chilean international arrived at the north London club from Barcelona earlier this summer. The 25-year-old was the Catalan club's second top scorer in the league last season, behind Lionel Messi.

Sanchez can play on the wide positions and also as a centre-forward. The Gunners manager says he has been monitoring the Chilean attacker while he was playing in Italy for Udinese.

"At the moment I want to see him in both positions. But I took him because he is a player who has the qualities of Walcott, he goes behind the defenders off the ball," Wenger told Arsenal's official website.

"And with the quality of his runs he can be very important for us. I will try to give him some part on Sunday and then maybe even a few minutes tomorrow."

"He is a striker and he's a good finisher. He made a great impression in Italy – I saw him there and he was really outstanding.

"Then at Barcelona it was a bit more difficult. But it's like you could see with Neymar at Barcelona, because there you have Messi."

"You see Neymar with Brazil and Neymar with Barcelona and it's not the same. I like the fact he can play left, right, up front and that's why I went for him," he added.

Arsenal signed Mathieu Debuchy, Calum Chambers and David Ospina, along with Sanchez in this ongoing transfer window.

Wenger has hailed the signing of the Colombian international who arrived from Nice. The north London club's boss claims Ospina's impressive form in France prompted him to sign him.

"I cannot tell you when he will play but he is in a position where he has to fight for his position. I like him as a goalkeeper because he's intelligent, he's quick and has shown that he can adapt," the Gunners manager told the club's official website.

"He came to France at a very young age and adapted and managed to gain his place in the national team. He's highly-regarded in France as a fantastic professional, that's what made me sign him. I hope in the future he can show his qualities."