According to recent reports, Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck are set to return to training this weekend with the possibility of seeing the Chilean star feature in the game against Manchester City. Both players have retunred sooner than expected which must delight all Gunner fans.
Arsene Wenger’s team started the month of December with a bang. They won two Premier League games and also survived a scare to qualify for the Champions League Round of 16. He will now face a dilemma as to the team he chooses to face Manchester City in this week’s Premier League fixture.
Alexis Sanchez has missed the last couple of games for the Gunners due to a hamstring injury he picked up against Norwich City. The manager was held guilty of playing the Chilean even as he complained of a hamstring pull and it eventually kept him on the side lines for two weeks.
Wenger will once again be in a dilemma as to whether he should give Sanchez who is demanding a recall a place in the team to face the Citizens on Monday. The schedule of the game being shifted to Monday will give the winger more time to recover.
The Chilean is known for his work rate and energy and it may be a risk to get him back into a match situation coming back from injury. This leaves Wenger with a decision to make on Monday night.
The London Evening Standard reported “Sanchez is desperate to be involved in one of the biggest games of the season to date which could yet determine who tops the table at Christmas,It is believed that the first signs in training have been encouraging and Wenger may well find the temptation to play Sanchez too great if he insists he is ready.”
In other news, England striker Danny Welbeck who has not been available for Arsenal since April was expected to return to full fitness by February next year. But a surgery in September sees the striker shorten his return date and is due to make a comeback by the first week of January.
“It had been suggested the 25-year-old would not be available until February at the earliest – placing his participation for England at Euro 2016 in doubt – but Welbeck remains on course to return to action next month,” reported the same paper.
If Arsenal can get through this festive season with minimum damage, they will genuinely have a shot at the Barclays Premier League title.