ARSENE WENGER has to rest Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal’s crunch clash with Manchester United - or eat his words.
Arsene Wenger was unusually vocal about his desire to see Alexis Sanchez withdrawn from duty for Chile’s World Cup 2018 qualifier with Uruguay.
Sanchez picked up a muscle injury in training with Chile which ruled him out of their 0-0 draw in Colombia last Thursday.
Sanchez picked up a muscle injury in training with Chile which ruled him out of their 0-0 draw in Colombia last Thursday.
He returned to action against Uruguay on Tuesday night, shrugging off any injury concerns to score twice in Chile’s 3-1 win.
But after Sanchez was pictured training with his thigh heavily strapped, Arsenal boss Wenger went out of his way to send a very direct message to Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi.
But after Sanchez was pictured training with his thigh heavily strapped, Arsenal boss Wenger went out of his way to send a very direct message to Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi.
“I got a text last night [to say] that he has a hamstring injury,” Wenger told beIN Sports, who he often works for as a TV pundit, days before Chile played Uruguay.
“The team from Chile has travelled without him and they kept him to try and get him fit to play Uruguay for the second game on Tuesday night.
“I believe that with a hamstring injury we have to get access for our medical staff to the MRI scan to see what grade it is, how bad it is and make absolutely sure they don’t make any suicidal decision that could harm his future for two or three months.
“That is absolutely important. It’s a grey area between the national team and the club team and of course they look at their own results which I can understand but we have to preserve the health of Alexis Sanchez.
“He always wants to play and that’s where it is a more sensitive case because he’s always ready to play even when injured.”
“The team from Chile has travelled without him and they kept him to try and get him fit to play Uruguay for the second game on Tuesday night.
“I believe that with a hamstring injury we have to get access for our medical staff to the MRI scan to see what grade it is, how bad it is and make absolutely sure they don’t make any suicidal decision that could harm his future for two or three months.
“That is absolutely important. It’s a grey area between the national team and the club team and of course they look at their own results which I can understand but we have to preserve the health of Alexis Sanchez.
“He always wants to play and that’s where it is a more sensitive case because he’s always ready to play even when injured.”
So basically what Wenger said is Sanchez always wants to play even when he is injured, that the 27-year-old should have returned to Arsenal at that point and Chile boss Pizzi playing him against Uruguay was potentially a “suicidal decision”.
As we know Wenger’s pleas fell on deaf ears and Pizzi selected Sanchez to start against the Uruguayans. And how he delivered.
The former Barcelona man single-handedly won Chile the game, earning them three vital points in a very competitive South American World Cup qualifying group ahead of the tournament in Russia in two years’ time.
His first was a long-range stunner, hit on the volley from outside the box to give Chile a 2-1 lead on 60 minutes (okay, maybe the keeper could have done better…watch the video below to see for yourself).
Then just 16 minutes later, Sanchez brought down a hoof upfield with a deft touch and held off two defenders to roll a left-footed finish into the back of the net and send the home crowd into raptures.
Potentially suicidal? More like Sanchez kept Chile alive Monsieur Wenger.
As we know Wenger’s pleas fell on deaf ears and Pizzi selected Sanchez to start against the Uruguayans. And how he delivered.
The former Barcelona man single-handedly won Chile the game, earning them three vital points in a very competitive South American World Cup qualifying group ahead of the tournament in Russia in two years’ time.
His first was a long-range stunner, hit on the volley from outside the box to give Chile a 2-1 lead on 60 minutes (okay, maybe the keeper could have done better…watch the video below to see for yourself).
Then just 16 minutes later, Sanchez brought down a hoof upfield with a deft touch and held off two defenders to roll a left-footed finish into the back of the net and send the home crowd into raptures.
Potentially suicidal? More like Sanchez kept Chile alive Monsieur Wenger.
Sanchez will have left the Estadio Nacional in Santiago like a god, again coming to the rescue for his country.
He only landed back in the UK yesterday afternoon, following a 15-hour flight from Chile’s capital.
So how did Wenger feel about the situation when he addressed the media at his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Manchester United tomorrow (12.30pm)?
“I fell asleep,” Wenger replied when asked if he stayed up into the early hours to see Sanchez in action.
“I have [since] watched the goals and he looked very sharp. I will watch the game today.
“I know him so well, like all my players that I observe every day, so I will be able to see if he was playing with a restriction or not. But the first goal he scored, he ran from the halfway line – if you are really injured with a hamstring you cannot do that."He always says he is okay! It is a very difficult one because I am sure he will come back saying he is alright.
He only landed back in the UK yesterday afternoon, following a 15-hour flight from Chile’s capital.
So how did Wenger feel about the situation when he addressed the media at his pre-match press conference ahead of Arsenal’s trip to Manchester United tomorrow (12.30pm)?
“I fell asleep,” Wenger replied when asked if he stayed up into the early hours to see Sanchez in action.
“I have [since] watched the goals and he looked very sharp. I will watch the game today.
“I know him so well, like all my players that I observe every day, so I will be able to see if he was playing with a restriction or not. But the first goal he scored, he ran from the halfway line – if you are really injured with a hamstring you cannot do that."He always says he is okay! It is a very difficult one because I am sure he will come back saying he is alright.
“What I will consider is the risk of injury, because he played while recovering from a hamstring injury. I’ll consider the way he feels as well.
"On that front, you depend on the honesty of the player, how they feel and how they recover.”
Given Sanchez pulled a hamstring last season while playing with fatigue, surely Wenger will NOT start him against United?
Sanchez was back in training at Arsenal’s London Colney HQ today, with Wenger presumbaly weighing up whether to play him at Old Trafford if he came through unscatched.
Olivier Giroud was also present as the Gunners prepared to face Jose Mourinho’s men.
Given Wenger’s “suicidal” comments about playing Sanchez on Tuesday he simply HAS to start Giroud and rest his star man.
Or eat his words - the choice is yours Arsene.
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