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Alexis Sánchez sets the tone for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and team-mates

Chilean’s passion rubs off on rest of Arsenal squad 
• ‘He manages to communicate so well and keep the dressing room upbeat’

It ought to be a given for a professional footballer to be obsessed with the game, but the way Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain tells it, there is a normal level of dedication in a dressing room and then there is the explosive leap up to the Alexis Sánchez level. Oxlade-Chamberlain seemed genuinely impressed as he elaborated on what he sees from Arsenal’s Chilean livewire every day.

“The one thing I would say about Alexis is that he’s one of the most passionate and hungry individuals I know,” he said.

“It’s his everyday mannerisms around the training ground, how he trains, his performances, how he scores goals, how he plays and how he defends from up front. These are all things that we can all learn, that everyone who watches football could learn from. I’ve definitely put myself in the bracket of somebody who learns from him every day.

“He’s someone that loves football, just loves playing football, and being involved in and around football. That comes out in training. He’s very passionate, very upbeat and is a massive character in the team. For someone that doesn’t have amazing English, he manages to communicate so well to all of us and keep the dressing room upbeat.”

It is interesting to note how the Sánchez effect has become such an important touchstone at London Colney. It is not just in the business of seeking out goals on matchday that his impact is felt, as it was with a dazzling hat-trick at Leicester last weekend. Oxlade-Chamberlain explained how his “positivity” rubs off all week. For some of the younger members of the Arsenal squad it is a resource that they would be daft not to tap into. Observing one of the most talented players giving his all in every training session, and analysing his own game to try to work on any marginal gain, makes a big impression. “If he knows when he’s not at his best, which is rare, he’ll always push himself to do as well as he can and he demands a lot of himself.”

That particular sentiment chimes with Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has a tendency to look negatively at his own game. Although the 22-year-old comes across as a very confident young man, both the manager and his father, the former England player Mark Chamberlain, have been known to talk to him about his self-belief, which can get quickly eroded. Wenger brought it up recently, as he thinks this is a key point in the player’s development.

“I did see that and I chuckled because my dad says that to me a lot,” said Oxlade-Chamberlain. “It’s a valid point. It’s definitely something for me to take on board and look to improve on.”

Wenger takes up the theme: “We spoke about it. I see him train every day, he is dedicated, focused, hungry. His dad said he lacks a bit of self-belief and I can confirm that because he is very critical of himself. That’s positive and a sign of top-level sportsmen but you have to find the right balance – not happy with what you do, without harming the confidence. He is maybe not happy enough with his performance after the games and sees only what he has not done well, not enough what he has done well.

“Look, he’s 22. He is in the English national team, he plays many games forArsenal. You become a complete player at 23. From 23 to 30 is certainly where you are at your best. He has the future in front and a bright one.”

Olympiakos in the Champions League brings back some good memories for Oxlade-Chamberlain. It was in this fixture four years ago that he made a big announcement of his promise, scoring on his European debut to become the youngest English player to score in the competition.

“It is a long time ago,” he said. “I can only remember the goal and feeling quite tired in the first half. I think I got a bit of a shock about the step up I had made at that time. It seems like a lot has happened in between that but at the same time, in my opinion, I would have wanted more to have happened in that time, so it gives me motivation and hunger to do more.”

Arsenal go into the game against the Greek champions with no room for error. It seems strange to refer to a contest on the second matchday as must-win but after a poor start in Zagreb, and with Bayern Munich back-to-back coming up next, Arsenal must beat Olympiakos. “We cannot drop points,” says Wenger.

Not easy, though. “These teams dominate their leagues. Olympiakos won comfortably on Saturday, they were safe after 20 minutes, when we were in a high-intensity game at Leicester. Mentally you cannot ease off before a Champions League game, as some others can. For example Dinamo Zagreb played on Saturday and they took three players off at half-time. I cannot do that at Leicester. For sure the Premier League is demanding and consuming energy wise – mentally more than physically.”

For Arsenal, the Sánchez school of motivation has to be the order of the day.

UNITED, CITY CHASING POSITIVE ECL RESULTS

After suffering surprise last round defeats, Manchester United and Manchester City will be hoping to get their Champions League campaign back on track on Wednesday.

But the two bitter English rivals find themselves in vastly different circumstances with United hitting their straps on top of the English Premier League table and City suddenly floundering with a string of defeats after a promising start.

The deadline-day arrival of Anthony Martial appears to have inspired Louis van Gaal's side, who have recorded four consecutive three-goal victories against Liverpool, Southampton, Ipswich Town, in the League Cup, and Sunderland.

Saturday's 3-0 win over Sunderland took United to the top of the league for the first time since 2013, but having begun the Champions League with a 2-1 defeat at PSV Eindhoven they are under increased pressure to win their first home game.

"I think with how the other game went, losing 2-1 to PSV, we know that our home games in the Champions League are crucial to getting through the group," says United centre-back Chris Smalling.

"Hopefully we can keep the fans happy and take maximum points."

Martial, 19, has taken to life in English football more quickly than anyone could have anticipated, scoring four goals in his first five games, and his defence-stretching pace has also benefited the three players playing behind him.

Wayne Rooney and Memphis Depay scored their first league goals of the season against Sunderland - the former ending an 11-game drought - while Juan Mata has come into his own on the right flank, producing three goals and three assists in his last seven outings.

The last time United failed to win either of their first two group games was in 2011-12, when a 1-1 draw at Benfica was followed by an untidy 3-3 draw at home to Basel. Two and a half months later, they were out.

Wolfsburg are slowly adapting to life without Kevin De Bruyne, Germany's Footballer of the Year last season, and new signing Julian Draxler is still finding his way.

The Wolves are also nursing a number of injuries, with Robin Knoche, Vierinha and Koen Casteels all out and Luiz Gustavo an injury doubt.

City hit the ground running, winning their first five league games and scoring 11 goals without conceding but have lost three of their four matches in all competitions since their Juventus defeat in the Champions League.

The pressure is now on Manuel Pellegrini's side to get their European campaign back on track in Germany, after crashing 4-1 at Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday.

"It's a must-win game," said City's Argentina defender Nicolas Otamendi.

"When you look at the quality and standard of players at this club it's almost demanded of us to be competing in Europe at the highest level.

"We're under no illusions that the only option we've got is to go out and get three points."

City have significant injury concerns as captain Vincent Kompany has missed the last three matches with a calf problem, goalkeeper Joe Hart sat out the Spurs defeat with a back problem and midfielder Yaya Toure was forced off with a hamstring injury and is doubtful.

In contrast, Gladbach have few injury worries and want to add to City's poor record away to Bundesliga sides after just two wins in Germany against six defeats.

In other matches Shakhtar Donetsk host Paris Saint-Germain, Malmo are at home to Real Madrid, PSV Eindhoven travel to CSKA Moscow, Galatasaray are away to Astana, Atletico Madrid meet Benfica while Juventus entertain Sevilla.

Must-win for Arsenal after Zagreb defeat

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger warned his side are already facing a must-win game in only their second Champions League group tie against Olympiacos at the Emirates Stadium tonight.

The Gunners host the Greek leaders, who have won all of their five domestic fixtures, needing to recover from a disappointing opening Group F defeat away to Dinamo Zagreb, where strike Olivier Giroud was sent off.

With a double-header next against Bayern Munich, Wenger concedes this evening’s contest now leaves no margin for further error.

He said: “You have to win your home games if you want to qualify from the group stage, it is simple as that. We cannot afford to drop points now against anyone at home.”

Wenger added: “Olympiacos dominates their league, they are a team with a big advantage – they dominate their league easily, so they can prepare for these kinds of games. They are well organised and have some players who know the Premier League, like [Esteban] Cambiasso and [Pajtim] Kasami who both played in England.”

It has been a poor start for English sides in Europe’s elite club competition this season, with defeats for both Manchester clubs as well as Arsenal. Wenger, though, does not believe any definitives can yet be drawn.

He said: “The Premier League is very, very tough. Is that an influence or not? I don’t know, but it’s a bit early to come to any conclusions. We have to wait a little bit longer. A second year without us being successful and you could come to a conclusion of, ‘yes, there is something we have to analyse deeply’, but I don’t believe so at the moment.

“Are we far away? I don’t think so, but we have to show that with our performance.”

Arsenal host Premier League leaders Manchester United on Sunday, but that will not impact on Wenger’s team selection, although goalkeeper David Ospina could again be preferred to Petr Cech.

Defensive midfielder Francis Coquelin has returned to training following a knee problem which kept him out of Saturday’s 5-2 win at Leicester.

EPL TEAM  OF THE  WEEK ; ROUND 7

There were 41 goals scored across the 10 matches this weekend and only two teams managed to keep clean sheets – Manchester United and Crystal palace. That made the decision on our goalkeeper particularly easy, but settling on the rest of the line-up was considerably more difficult, especially when it came to the forwards. Liverpool led the way for us this week as the return of Daniel Sturridge lifted the side and showed what they were capable of producing and took some of the pressure off manager Brendan Rodgers. The Reds also provided out captain for the week, with stand-in skipper James Milner executing the task successfully in the win over Aston Villa. Arsenal and Manchester United also provided two players apiece. We have gone with a 3-4-3 formation this week.

EPL team of the week: Round 7
GKP: David de Gea (Manchester United)
DEF: Nacho Monreal (Arsenal), Virgil van Dijk (Southampton), Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur)
MID: Juan Mata (Manchester United), James Milner (Liverpool) (Captain), Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool), Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham)
FWD: Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal), Romelu Lukaku (Everton), Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool)

GOALKEEPER
David de Gea (Manchester United)
Whatever the ethics about the way the club clung to David de Gea, it has been a masterstroke. He made three solid saves against Sunderland helping his side keep one of only two clean sheets across the round.

DEFENDERS
Nacho Monreal (Arsenal)
His passing cut the previously unbeaten Leicester City to pieces throughout the match, while he was completely solid defensively as well. He was able to pinpoint Alexis Sanchez and Theo Walcott with perfectly weighted through balls consistently and also provided a goal assist for Olivier Giroud to score Arsenal's fifth goal.

Virgil van Dijk (Southampton)
Proved to be the most solid of the Southampton defenders in their win over Swansea City and also scored his first goal for the club with a thumping header to open his side's scoring.

Toby Alderweireld (Tottenham Hotspur)
Tasked with the difficult job of keeping Sergio Aguero quiet, he excelled and was super solid down back, helping Tottenham secure an upset victory against Manchester City. He also got on the scoresheet himself after getting up for a towering header.

MIDFIELDERS
Juan Mata (Manchester United)
Provided a sublime assist to set up Memphis Depay to score the opening goal against Sunderland and also scored one of his own as the match approached full time. 

James Milner (Liverpool) (Captain)
Opened the scoring for the Reds with a low, crisp drive in the second minute of the game and then provided an assist for one of Daniel Sturridge's two goals. Worked hard both ways and provided excellent service for his strikers.

Philippe Coutinho (Liverpool)
Provided a back-heel assist to set up a Sturridge goal, which was one of just many creative thrusts forward he was able to generate throughout the match. Didn't hit the scoreboard thanks to playing a deeper midfield role, although he twice forced saves from Brad Guzan from free kicks.

Cheikhou Kouyate (West Ham)
Rescued a point for West Ham after scoring an equalising goal in the 93rd minute against Norwich City. Kouyate, as has become par for the course this season, was the busiest man on the pitch and never allowed the Norwich defenders to settle.

FORWARDS
Alexis Sanchez (Arsenal)
After going eight games without scoring a goal, Sanchez responded in magnificent fashion against the previously unbeaten Leicester, scoring a fantastic hat-trick to get his season back on track. His remarkable goal-scoring feat now makes him the first player to score a hat trick in each of the Premier League, Serie A and La Liga.

Romelu Lukaku (Everton)
Had a blinder against his former club, scoring two goals and setting up the third to inspire his club to a remarkable 3-2 win after trailing 0-2 against West Bromwich Albion.

Daniel Sturridge (Liverpool)
Took a little while to find his feet but he absolutely burst into life in the second half, scoring two goals and being unlucky not to score a hat-trick. The Reds look so much more impressive with a fit and firing Sturridge in the side, but has his return come quick enough to save Brendan Rodgers's job?

Do you agree with our team of the week? Have your say in the comments section below.