Arsene Wenger insists there is no ulterior motive to starting Alexis Sanchez in minor competitions and leaving him out of Arsenal's Premier League side
Arsene Wenger and Alexis Sanchez
Arsene Wenger insists there is no ulterior motive to starting Alexis Sanchez in minor competitions and leaving him out of Arsenal's Premier League side.
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Sanchez was a surprise starter as the Gunners made hard work of beating Doncaster 1-0 in their English League Cup third-round meeting on Wednesday night. The Chile forward played the whole game, just as he did in last week's Europa League opener against Cologne. Given Sanchez was close to leaving the Emirates Stadium in the summer and the fact he is out of contract at the end of the season, it had been insinuated in some quarters that Wenger was making a point.
But the Frenchman, whose side host West Brom on Monday, says there is nothing sinister in limiting Sanchez's appearances, pointing instead to an extended summer break and a niggling injury as an explanation.
"There is no disguised attitude on my side," he said. "I just try to get him back to full fitness and for me the Europa League and the League Cup is important as well.
"I just try to give him competition and to get him back to his best, because I gave him a long holiday and after that long holiday this year he had a real rest. He came back not really fit, it took us time to get him back and then he got injured."
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