Arsene Wenger has insisted that he does not, any point, force Alexis Sanchez, or any other player, to play when they’re injured.
The Chilean took to the field with a heavily strapped hamstring last weekend, having given Arsenal an injury scare while away on international duty.
However, the Arsenal manager says he had recovered enough to be selected, and said he would demand anyone to play if they didn’t feel fit enough.
A question about giving Alexis some time – something that was suggested in a couple of reports earlier today – prompted this answer from Wenger.
“He had a bandage before the game because he had a little bit tightness in hamstring,” he said.
“But he was checked, you know, before the game. I follow the instructions of the medical staff, and of the player, and after I make my decision.
“If they declare him capable to play and he declares himself capable to play … I never forced any player in my whole life to play.
“I never demanded anybody be injected to play. If a player says he’s 100% after I make my decision, do I play him or not.”
“Suggestions that we push him to play when he’s not fit are completely wrong.”
We’re not quite sure where that suggestion was coming from, it seemed more as if Alexis would say ‘I’m fine!’ with his leg hanging off.
Still, when asked if he might provide him with a mid-season break, Wenger continued, “If I have the possibility I would like to give a winter to break to everyone.
“I just had a luxury to do it with Ozil but Chile played qualifiers in the World Cup. And in fact he didn’t play the first game, he was not overloaded with games before Manchester United.”
Sanchez can be seen in today’s training pictures without any strapping on his legs, and jumping as high into the air as he can, because he really likes jumping.
I think Sanchez and Ozil has got to play every game if we are to win some titles. I think AW should take them off around 60 min mark if games are won. We tend to play them 90 mins far too much I think.
Hope they can stay fit for the rest of the season. COYG
The Boss can’t please us all. He does his best to please the team…..
People criticise if he rotates and rests players then they criticise if a player gets injured. Can’t have it both ways
The teams that won the title this past two seasons prob rotated the least of any of the big teams. They were lucky to have low levels of injuries yes, but clearly players if handled correctly can play a lot of games.
More likely that Alexis forced Wenger to play him.
Exactly, forcing Alexis to play seems as necessary as forcing water to be wet
I’d say rest him for the PSG match. Giroud has shown that he is more than capable of leading the line and bringing back Iwobi should help replace some movement up front.
I think the buck falls to Wenger. Firstly Ozil had a whole week off before the united game and he was a no show. It seems all i hear is our players are over played, then all i hear from the players not playing well enough that they are not match fit. We are drilling out best players into the ground and thats the squad’s fault. Wenger obviously doesn’t trust our squad members to make the difference, for instance Elneney over Xhaka, Ramsey on the wing when we had options, Sanchez with a tight hamstring when Giroud is on the… Read more »
You’d have to force him NOT to play.:D Who are these numpties? Do they even watch the game? That said, felt we were risking it a bit playing him. We are in danger of overplaying him and being over reliant. His output was noticeably (and understandably) less against UNited. Why we don’t play GIroud more minutes is beyond me. We cans till have the luxury of Alexis on the flanks. In fact I felt we would have benefited from the Ox on the right TBH particularly without the presence of Bellerin. We needed the width the Ox could bring on… Read more »
In fact, I don’t even think he is any better than Flamini but some people have bias in their heads and cannot simply think straight.
Ohh.. the irony here!
Fortunately after the PSG match we have two matches where Sanchez arguably need not play. I suggest that on the way out of the stadium Wednesday night, Wenger give Sanchez a plane ticket to Dubai and tell him “Don’t come back until we’ve played Southampton. Merry Christmas!”
He can buy his own bloody ticket. The money he’s on!
“Sanchez can be seen in today’s training pictures without any strapping on his legs, and jumping as high into the air as he can, because he really likes jumping.”
that’s cos he’s got a good head for a short man