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Arsene Wenger denies Alexis Sanchez was on Arsenal bench at Chelsea because of Man City interest
Arsene Wenger insisted his decision to start Alexis Sanchez on the substitutes’ bench for Arsenal’s Carabao Cup semi-final first leg draw against Chelsea had nothing to do with Manchester City’s attempts to sign him.
Arsenal are growing increasingly resigned to selling City target Sanchez this month, but Wenger has no concerns over the forward’s commitment.
Wenger reiterated his desire for Sanchez to stay at Arsenal, but claimed the Chilean proved he will remain professional in the meantime by the way he behaved at Stamford Bridge.
Sanchez made a 66th-minute appearance as a substitute to replace Alexandre Lacazette and asked whether or not his decision to start with his star man on the bench was related to City, Wenger replied: “No. The team selection had nothing to do with the transfer market.
“I have not to justify every decision I make, you know. I made over 1000 games and over 1000 teams and I got it every time wrong, but I have to make a decision.”
Wenger was once again asked if he hopes Sanchez will stay at Arsenal and he said: “Yes, that’s what I want. I want him to stay for longer because he’s a very important player for us.
“When he came on tonight, you could see that he created straight away danger. We have to accept as well when you play so many games and Sanchez plays every game that sometimes a breather in the middle of the season helps a little bit.
“People don’t know well Alexis Sanchez, this is a guy who is completely focussed to play football. You see how he warmed up and how he came on? Like a player who wants to play football and he can make a difference between what’s going on outside and what’s happening on the football pitch. We live with facts, not with psychological theories and the fact is when you turn out on the pitch you play football and you give 100 per cent. That’s what he does.”
Wenger also defended his decision to start Alex Iwobi, even though the winger had broken club rules by partying ahead of the FA Cup defeat to Nottingham Forest.
“There is one thing to punish somebody individually and another thing to punish everybody,” said Wenger. “If I think he can help the team to win, then that is nothing to do with the fact he can be punished, separately, individually.”
Jack Wilshere was forced off with an ankle injury and Wenger added: “He has an ankle sprain, the first look at it was not too bad. But of course for Sunday I think he will be short. How long he will be out, I don’t know. It’s a shame to lose him when he’s in such a good form. It’s his good ankle, so I’m quite positive.”
Chelsea, and in particular Andreas Christensen, missed good chances to take a second-leg lead to the Emirates.
“We created chances to score, but we didn't take them,” said head coach Antonio Conte. “I think in the last period we must be more clinical, more good offensively. Otherwise, if you don't score, if you're lucky the game finishes in a draw. After Norwich it's the second 0-0 in a row. We have to reflect on this and try to improve during training sessions and try to improve in this situation.”