The Warm-Up: Alexis Sanchez downs Sunderland on one leg

If there is one thing we know about Alexis Sanchez (apart from the fact that he’s a dog guy), it is that he “just loves playing”. You would think this would be true for most people who have devoted their lives to a sport, but that’s by the by. Sanchez, we’re told, loves playing even more than people who love playing love playing.

It wasn’t that much of a surprise, then, to see him in the Arsenal XI for Tuesday night’s match against Sunderland, despite the fact he had been forced off early against Stoke at the weekend. This is just what Sanchez does: gets hurt or gets tired or travels halfway around the globe, then gives Arsene Wenger evils until he agrees to start him anyway.

For 60 minutes at the Emirates, it looked like a bad call. Sanchez was basically operating on one leg, loping around like a puppy with a thorn in its foot. He looked a very good candidate to be withdrawn in favour of fresher, fitter legs.

Then he scored. Then he scored again. Neither goal will make his highlight reel, but both required the kind of anticipation and movement that Arsenal’s other attackers don’t seem to be able to produce on a consistent basis.

Even when operating at half capacity, Sanchez is still Wenger’s best bet.

It really is the twilight of the idols as far as Premier League defenders go. John Terry bid farewell to Chelsea on Monday night and yesterday it was the turn of Pablo Zabaleta to say his goodbyes after nine seasons at Manchester City.

The club marked the occasion with a simple win over West Brom, Kevin De Bruyne and Gabriel Jesus doing most of the damage in the first half. But the highlight of the evening came after the final whistle, when Zabaleta and family soaked up warm applause from the City faithful.

Football’s leading Paul Simon look-alike will certainly be missed on these shores.

We have our first Championship play-off finalist: Reading will be at Wembley after seeing off Fulham at the Madejski Stadium. It wasn’t especially thrilling, but Jaap Stam’s men kept things tight at the back and got the job done thanks to a Yann Kermorgant penalty just after half-time.

Which is as good an excuse as any to revisit this little gem:

High five to Arsenal for wishful thinking: this, apparently, is what a 59,510 attendance at the 60,000-seat Emirates Stadium looks like. Definitely a glass-half-full kind of club.

It feels odd picking a player from a losing side, but the young Sunderland goalkeeper really was very, very good against Arsenal. Sharp, athletic and blessed with an unbelievable kick, Pickford won’t be short of suitors looking to, erm, remove him from Sunderland this summer.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN YOU DON’T SEE IT?

Over on the Independent website, Miguel Delaney tells the story of how Antonio Conte turned Chelsea into title winners. Great little details abound.

The Premier League’s May marathon continues with Southampton vs Manchester United – a game you’d literally have to pay The Warm-Up to watch. No goals vs no motivation? No thanks.

In the Championship, it’s Sheffield Wednesday vs Huddersfield (much better) and there are a few continental games here and there, including the Coppa Italia final between Juventus and Lazio.