Arsene Wenger: Playing Sanchez would be suicidal

As is well reported by now, Alexis Sanchez picked up an injury this week whilst training with the Chilean national team. It was initially feared that Sanchez had torn his calf muscle and would, therefore be out for a significant amount of time. Since then, however, it has been reported that the injury is a ‘low grade’ calf injury. 

According to Jeremy Wilson of the Daily Telegraph, Arsenal have received information on Sanchez’s injury – which shows damage to his hamstring – and are adamant that they (the Arsenal staff) need to assess him. 

Wenger maintains that it is essential that the Arsenal staff evaluate the severity of Sanchez’s injury. 

‘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.’

Alexis Sanchez is essential to Arsenal’s title challenge and the club will be keen to get the forward back fit or they could be in for another long November.