Arsenal suffered a worrying injury scare on Tuesday night as Alexis Sanchez limped out of training while on duty for Chile.
Sanchez, who has established himself as the club’s first-choice striker this season, suffered a calf injury ahead of Chile’s clash against Colombia and will miss the game.
The Chilean FA played down the injury describing it as a ‘low grade muscular injury’ and also suggested Sanchez could even be available for Tuesday’s World Cup qualifier against Uruguay.
The former Barcelona man was immediately ruled out of Thursday night’s clash against Colombia, but the Chilean FA want to keep Sanchez in the hope he is available for the game against the Uruguayans.
Arsenal, though, want Sanchez to return to England for treatment with a view to having him ready for the Premier League clash against Manchester United on Saturday week.
And Wenger has fiercely reiterated his club’s stance on French TV, saying: ‘I got a text to say that he has a hamstring injury. 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.
‘I believe that with a hamstring injury we have to get access for our medical staff to the 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. 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 he’s injured.’
Wenger also discovered on Thursday that right back Hector Bellerin will be out for at least two weeks after suffering an ankle injury. He will miss the trip to Manchester United and the visit of Paris Saint-Germain. (with files from daily Mail)
