Football
PA Sport 6y

Alexis Sanchez left on Arsenal bench amid Man City transfer speculation

Alexis Sanchez was only a substitute for Arsenal as Alex Iwobi started in Wednesday night's Carabao Cup semifinal first leg at Chelsea despite facing a fine for his late-night partying.

Iwobi faces a club fine for partying until the early hours of Saturday morning ahead of Sunday's FA Cup third-round loss at Nottingham Forest.

That was the Gunners' first third-round exit in 21 years under manager Arsene Wenger, who left Sanchez on the bench as doubts over the Chile international's future continue.

The former Barcelona forward is out of contract this summer and has been linked with a January switch to Manchester City.

Frenchman Wenger was serving the second game of a three-match touchline ban and was expected to be sitting in the press box, having made six changes to his starting lineup.

Ross Barkley, as expected, was not in the Chelsea squad, following last Friday's move from Everton.

The 24-year-old began training with Chelsea on Saturday, but is not yet deemed match fit following his long-term hamstring injury.

Only Antonio Rudiger and Danny Drinkwater were retained as the Blues made nine changes following last Saturday's goalless draw at Norwich, which means a FA Cup replay next week, as Antonio Conte reverted to his first-choice lineup.

Conte had fielded largely peripheral players in the competition thus far, but now Eden Hazard, N'Golo Kante and Thibaut Courtois were called upon as the Blues chased the season's first significant trophy. Captain Gary Cahill was absent from the squad altogether.

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