Football
Kevin Palmer 9y

Arsene Wenger 'unlikely' to risk Alexis Sanchez for Arsenal vs. Aston Villa

LONDON -- Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is poised to rest Alexis Sanchez in Sunday's Premier League clash with Aston Villa, saying it could be "too risky" to play the forward, who is nursing a hamstring injury.

Sanchez, 26, has been the star of Arsenal's campaign so far, but Wenger has suggested for several weeks that the 35 million-pound signing from Barcelona is suffering from fatigue after playing in most of this season's games.

While the Chile international's hamstring problem is not a major concern, Wenger is likely to give him a week off before a run of high-profile games in February, saying: "It's unlikely that I will be risking him on Sunday, but we will see."

Arsenal face matches against Tottenham, in-form Crystal Palace and FA Cup and Champions League tests next month, with Wenger hopeful that Danny Welbeck, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Jack Wilshere will be back in contention for selection over the course of the month.

"If I gamble, gamble, gamble, Welbeck could be available for Sunday, but he will be back next week," Wenger said. "Chamberlain... the game against Tottenham will come too quickly for him.

"With Jack, he is one more week on a fitness regime and he should join up with the squad in 10 days. He is a week ahead of schedule in his return [from ankle surgery]."

Despite Villa's indifferent form and lack of goals this season, Wenger is wary of the threat posed by Paul Lambert's side.

"We have some ground to make up, but we want to be focused and committed," he said. "They have suffered a lot with injuries. When everyone is there, they are a team that looks quite dangerous."

Wenger has yet to decide whether to recall goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny to his Premier League starting XI after the Poland international returned to action in last Sunday's FA Cup fourth round victory against Brighton.

David Ospina is in contention to retain his place after keeping clean sheets in the Gunners' last two league matches.

^ Back to Top ^