Arsene Wenger fears Alexis Sanchez could be too "fired up" when Arsenal meet his former employers Barcelona on Tuesday.
The world champions visit the Emirates Stadium in the first leg of the teams' Champions League last-16 encounter, having avoided defeat in each of their previous 32 matches.
Wenger is aware that Sanchez more than anyone will be keen to make an impression against the club that let him go for £35m two summers ago, however, the Frenchman believes this mentality could be detrimental to the attacker's performance.
"He will be fired up, but that doesn't mean he will be in the right zone," Wenger said, as quoted by the"Sometimes when you are too focused you are not relaxed, so it's a zone where everything looks easy and sometimes when you play against your former club you are not necessarily in that zone."
Asked if he would discuss his point privately with Sanchez, Wenger replied: "A little word, yes.
"He can help us to win the game. But I know that not one player will win us the game. We need a top level team performance where everybody is spot on in the discipline and sharp physically and ready to work for the team.
"If everyone does that then maybe Alexis can make the difference but it's not especially on him. We need all our players." Mail.
"The performance zone is where you are focused and relaxed and that is what is difficult in sport"Sometimes when you are too focused you are not relaxed, so it's a zone where everything looks easy and sometimes when you play against your former club you are not necessarily in that zone."
Asked if he would discuss his point privately with Sanchez, Wenger replied: "A little word, yes.
"He can help us to win the game. But I know that not one player will win us the game. We need a top level team performance where everybody is spot on in the discipline and sharp physically and ready to work for the team.
"If everyone does that then maybe Alexis can make the difference but it's not especially on him. We need all our players."
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