Joey Barton admits he gets hammered by Arsenal fans every time Alexis Sanchez hits the back of the net and is worried he won’t be able to stop the Chilean on Boxing Day.

The QPR star pointed out that although the Gunners ace has scored 14 times this season he failed to notch against the likes of Manchester United, Spurs and Chelsea.

He drew a blank against another of the Premier League’s bigger clubs Liverpool on Sunday in what was arguably his worst performance since joining from Barcelona.

Liverpool's Lazar Markovic and Arsenal's Alexis Sanchez (right) battle for the ball
Below-par: Alexis Sanchez had an off day at Anfield

But it is hard to argue with the forward’s return since moving to England, having added assists as well goals, and Barton has been on the end of some stick on social media.

A football feast at the Emirates this Christmas will see Barton come face to face with Sanchez’s Gunners and the tenacious midfielder is a great admirer of the North Londoners.

“I love them,” Barton explained. “They get on the front foot. People criticise me – I have a lot of opinions on a lot of different things – and I did say when Alexis Sanchez came I thought he was a little bit inconsistent at Barcelona. I think he's been great for the league.

Fiery: Joey Barton is relishing the Arsenal game

“We've got two Chileans here and I constantly ask them about him. The thing they both have is a high energy high octane game, with an abundance of running – they never stop working for the team. I think he's done that in the games I've seen.

“In the Newcastle game last week he was exceptional, he was everywhere. He's taken to this league like a duck to water. I rightly get caned by all the Arsenal fans on Twitter every time he has a good game or scores a goal – similarly with Neymar or anyone else I've criticised for that matter.

“He's a wonderful player. The gripe Arsenal fans have had with the powers that be at the football club is that they haven't invested in that level of player. They've done that with Sanchez and for me he's been a breath of fresh air.”

Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal looks to go past Sebastien Pocognoli of West Bromwich Albion
Close control: Alexis Sanchez looks to go past Sebastien Pocognoli

Sanchez struggled to impose himself at Anfield at the weekend and had to come searching for the ball as Arsenal failed to play the flowing football that has caught Barton’s eye.

Perhaps man-marking the Chile international could be the answer for QPR?

“Not really – I don't think I'm good enough to be honest,” Barton joked. “I'll leave that to someone else. It'll be difficult. They're a top side and they've got different ambitions to us. The pressure will be on them – everyone knows we're crap away from home!

Struggle: Alexis Sanchez drew a blank against Man United

“It'd be a different game if we were playing them here – we'd fancy our chances against anyone – and we know we've got to rectify our away form. We're eight on the spin away from home and it doesn't get any easier.

“It'd be nice to have an easy game but there are none at this level. It's our home form that's saving us at the minute. We've probably got one of the best home records in the league and the worst away record in the football league.

“I don't know is the answer. We were better at Everton the other day and gave sloppy goals away, myself guilty of a sloppy ball. When it rains it pours and away from home it's not going for us but at home it's the polar opposite. It's a strange old season.”

Take ons (% success rate)

Raheem Sterling

50 (54%)

Alexis Sanchez

45 (52%)