Arsenal news: Wenger hopes Alexis Sanchez will be fit for Watford clash after goalscoring heroics for Chile

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hinted at frustration at the overloading of Alexis Sanchez during the international break, and hopes the Chile striker will return fighting fit ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Watford.

Sanchez was forced off late in the 3-0 drubbing of Manchester United with a slight hip problem, yet Wenger was powerless to prevent the forward meeting up with his national side.

With the likes of Manchester City forward Sergio Aguero and team-mate David Silva both picking up injuries while away, Wenger was surely hoping his star man - who netted six goals in three games for second place Arsenal ahead of the break - would stay problem free.

But Sanchez showed no signs of injury as he netted in a 2-0 victory over South America rivals Brazil before firing a brace and assisting two goals to seal a 4-3 win over Peru.

And while Wenger praises the 26-year-old’s enthusiasm for his country, the Frenchman admits it also presents him with a ‘tricky situation’ as his club boss.

"Overall the first step is to get everybody in a good shape because when you look around, you see some clubs lost players due to the international break,” Wenger said in a press conference ahead of Saturday’s trip to Vicarage Road.

“Some of our players land today at 2pm so we have to check their fitness to see if there are no bad surprises," said Wenger.

"I cannot do a lot about it [Sanchez playing twice for Chile].

"He came off as you have seen against Manchester United with a hip problem, a problem with the rotator muscle and he wanted to go.

"He played in the last two games and we have to see how he comes back, but it is always a tricky situation. Chile are trying to qualify for the World Cup and he is an important player for them, but they will use him if they can.

"Alexis is a guy that always wants to play so I knew that was always going to be a tricky situation."

Wenger added: "Let's see what happens and how he comes back. We have to see if we have to protect him in our next game or not."

Aside from Sanchez’s likely participation, Arsenal have received one other boost ahead of the weekend with centre-back Laurent Koscielny, who has been out since the end of September with a hamstring injury, in line to make a return to first-team action.