The Chilean forward has been ruled out Thursday night’s World Cup qualifying clash with Columbia.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has told BeinSports (as quoted by The Mirror) that Chile risk making a suicidal decision that could rule Alexis Sanchez out for two or three months if they decide to play the injured forward during Tuesday night’s World Cup qualifying clash with Uruguay.
Sanchez, who has enjoyed a terrific start to the 2016/17 season at The Emirates Stadium, picked up a soft muscle injury whilst on international duty with Chile earlier this week; with the Chilean team’s medical staff issuing a statement confirming that the influential 27-year-old would undergo treatment and evaluation before they made any further decision on his availability for the national side.
However, Sanchez’s club boss Wenger is well-aware of the former Barcelona star’s insatiable appetite for football, and the long-serving French manager fears that the stout-hearted 27-year-old will declare himself fit for his countries pivotal qualifier with Uruguay on Tuesday, regardless of whether or not he is carrying an injury.
“I got a text last night (to say) that he has a hamstring injury.” Wenger told BeinSports (as quoted by The Mirror)
“The team from Chile has travelled without him and they kept him to try and get him fit to play Uruguay for the second game on Tuesday night.
“I believe that with a hamstring injury. We have to get access for our medical staff to the MRI scan to see what grade it is, how bad it is and make absolutely sure they don’t make any suicidal decision that could harm his future for two or three months.
“That is absolutely important. It’s a grey area between the national team and the club team and of course they look at their own results which I can understand but we have to preserve the health of Alexis Sanchez.
“He always wants to play and that’s where it is a more sensitive case because he’s always ready to play even when injured.”
Wenger speaks from experience when discussing the potential pitfalls of bowing to Sanchez’s demands and playing him whilst he is injured all all too well, after the Gunners’ imprudent decision to play the Chilean whilst he was nursing a knock last season resulted in him missing a pivotal chunk of the campaign.
Sanchez has been in exquisite form for Arsenal following Wenger’s decision to move him into a central-striking berth to accommodate for the injured Olivier Giroud, with the effervescent winger already netting eight goals and providing five assists during the North Londoners’ majestic 15-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
A long-term injury to the gifted Chilean would deal a hammer blow to the Gunners’ chances of challenging for domestic and European honours this season, and Wenger will be praying that Chile opt against risking the forward in Tuesday night’s game and send him back to London so he can be treated.
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