Arsenal striker Alexis Sanchez has unveiled a giant statue of himself in his home city towering above the crests of the sides he has played for including his current club.

The struggling forward - who threw a tantrum after Chile lost 1-0 to Argentina in a crucial World Cup qualifying game on Thursday - was all smiles 24 hours later as he jetted into Tocopilla for the ceremony.

The unveiling in front of hundreds of fans went ahead despite vandals damaging the crest of Chilean side Colo Colo where Alexis made his debut nearly 11 years ago.

Police are still hunting those responsible for the attack, which echoed a similar attack on a Cristiano Ronaldo statue in Madeira in January last year which had Messi's name painted on it.

As well as the iron effigy and giant crests and a large replica of the America Cup which Chile won on a penalty shootout in 2015, the Arsenal frontman also unveiled Hollywood Walk of Fame-style handprints and footprints.

His handprints featured a message said to have been written by the footballer which started: "Never feel sad because someone tells you [that] you can't do something in your life.

"If you have a dream you have to protect it."

He chose a message by boxer Rocky Balboa to accompany his footprints.

Alexis, who is facing ongoing speculation about his Gunners' future, was only at the site for a few minutes.

Alexis Sanchez: The best moments of his first season 4 show all Alexis Sanchez: The best moments of his first season 1/4 MANCHESTER CITY, SEPTEMBER 13 If it wasn’t Besiktas maybe this was the best goal Sanchez scored. It was certainly quite a way to show he had what it takes on the biggest stage, as the forward showed incredible technique to sidefoot a volley past Joe Hart from a looping header. Arsenal couldn’t hold on to the three points Sanchez seemed to have won them, but it was this moment that showed Arsenal fans what a spectacular talent they had. Getty 2/4 STOKE CITY, JANUARY 11 After their humbling at the Britannia earlier in the season Arsenal were desperate for revenge against perennial rivals Stoke. And Sanchez gave it to them in style. After delivering a cross for Laurent Koscielny to head the Gunners into an early lead the forward took over. First he drove at the Stoke right flank, cutting in field and powering past Asmir Begovic at the keeper’s near post. Then, in proof that nothing could go wrong for Sanchez last season, a driven free-kick was deflected in after deflecting off the Stoke wall. Arsenal had payback and Sanchez was the star. Getty 3/4 READING, 18 APRIL Perhaps not Sanchez’s greatest performance, this game was emblematic of how his attitude got Arsenal results, even when they weren’t performing well. And they certainly weren’t after the Championship side had found an equaliser to Sanchez’s early strike Arsenal. Yet the forward refused to give up as his colleagues heads seemed to drop and, though the winning goal will always be remembered for Adam Federici’s heartbreaking mistake, his relentless energy helped force a chance for him to convert. Getty 4/4 ASTON VILLA, 30 MAY This makes the list solely on the basis of the magnificent, thumping effort that lit up this contest and immediately took its place in the pantheon of great FA Cup final goals. Arsenal already seemed well on course for victory but it was Sanchez 25-yard dipper, which seemed to swerve from one side of the goal to the other, that killed Villa’s spirit. It was the perfect way to cap off a fantastic debut season for the Emirates and secure his first trophy in Arsenal colours. Getty 1/4 MANCHESTER CITY, SEPTEMBER 13 If it wasn’t Besiktas maybe this was the best goal Sanchez scored. It was certainly quite a way to show he had what it takes on the biggest stage, as the forward showed incredible technique to sidefoot a volley past Joe Hart from a looping header. Arsenal couldn’t hold on to the three points Sanchez seemed to have won them, but it was this moment that showed Arsenal fans what a spectacular talent they had. Getty 2/4 STOKE CITY, JANUARY 11 After their humbling at the Britannia earlier in the season Arsenal were desperate for revenge against perennial rivals Stoke. And Sanchez gave it to them in style. After delivering a cross for Laurent Koscielny to head the Gunners into an early lead the forward took over. First he drove at the Stoke right flank, cutting in field and powering past Asmir Begovic at the keeper’s near post. Then, in proof that nothing could go wrong for Sanchez last season, a driven free-kick was deflected in after deflecting off the Stoke wall. Arsenal had payback and Sanchez was the star. Getty 3/4 READING, 18 APRIL Perhaps not Sanchez’s greatest performance, this game was emblematic of how his attitude got Arsenal results, even when they weren’t performing well. And they certainly weren’t after the Championship side had found an equaliser to Sanchez’s early strike Arsenal. Yet the forward refused to give up as his colleagues heads seemed to drop and, though the winning goal will always be remembered for Adam Federici’s heartbreaking mistake, his relentless energy helped force a chance for him to convert. Getty 4/4 ASTON VILLA, 30 MAY This makes the list solely on the basis of the magnificent, thumping effort that lit up this contest and immediately took its place in the pantheon of great FA Cup final goals. Arsenal already seemed well on course for victory but it was Sanchez 25-yard dipper, which seemed to swerve from one side of the goal to the other, that killed Villa’s spirit. It was the perfect way to cap off a fantastic debut season for the Emirates and secure his first trophy in Arsenal colours. Getty

But he found the time to gift statue creator Marco Vergara the Chile shirt he wore for his country's defeat against Argentina before taking a private jet to the capital Santiago so he could rejoin his teammates to prepare for their next match.

Troubled Sanchez pulled angrily at his shirt as he appeared to lose his rag after Thursday's defeat.

His tantrum followed his removal from the starting XI in a recent defeat to Liverpool and a reported training ground bust-up which Arsene Wenger went on to deny.

Chile - who play Venezuela on Tuesday - now face a real fight to make the 2018 Russia World Cup.