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Arsenal Should Not ‘Gamble’ With Alexis Sanchez’s Health
There is a chance that Arsenal’s star man Alexis Sanchez will be available for Sunday’s clash with Stoke, but Arsene Wenger would be smart to rest the Chilean further.
On Sunday Arsenal will travel to the Britannia Stadium for another face off with the always bullish Potters. The Gunners gained some good news ahead of the clash when manager Arsene Wenger announced that there would be a chance Alexis Sanchez could make a triumphant return.
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His exact words, which he revealed to Arsenal’s official website were “I would say has a 60:40 chance to be available and be back in the squad. He has two decisive days – Friday and Saturday. He is fit, he has worked very hard and the decision we have to take is whether to take a gamble or not on his injury.”
Stop right there. Gamble? 60:40? Stop, just stop Mr. Wenger. Why is it so difficult for Arsene to learn from mistakes or change his thinking? The reason we got into this predicament in the first place was because Wenger listened to Alexis’ evaluation instead of the medical staff’s. Now he wants to take a gamble on the health of arguably our best player, why? What point is going to be proved against Stoke?
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Don’t get me wrong there are no easy games in Premier League. Stoke have proven that they can take the fight to literally anyone. The Potters have been on quite a hot streak. Stoke have recently defeated both Manchester clubs, Southampton, Everton and have also held West Ham to a 0-0 draw. They are playing very good football right now and they should not be taken lightly, but Arsenal can not win the league on Sunday.
There is so much left to play for in this season, and most of that will depend on the prolonged health of Arsenal’s best players. Alexis Sanchez’s return should not be a gamble. It should not be a 60/40 split. The Chilean should be as close to 100% as possible.
Arsenal have enough to beat a Stoke side without Xherdan Shaqiri. The Gunners defeated title rivals Manchester City without their star winger and they can replicate that result at the Britannia. Of course it will be more difficult but that is simply a risk Arsenal will have to take. Three points are crucial and incredibly important in such a tight race, but no amount of points won in single game are as important as Alexis Sanchez’s hamstrings!
Furthermore when you look forward at Arsenal’s upcoming fixtures there are much more important games on the horizon. From this weekend to the end of February, the Gunners will face Chelsea, Southampton, Leicester, Manchester United and, oh yeah Barcelona!
Please, for the love of God, see reason Mr. Wenger (hands raised to the heavens)!
This is not the Arsenal team from 12 months ago. This team is not run by one man, not even Mesut Ozil has been infallible throughout Sanchez’s absence. Arsenal have proven time and again that they can get by without being at full strength.
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When Alexis Sanchez does return he must be in the squad for the remainder of the season. Of course anything can happen there is no way to ensure that Sanchez remains healthy until May, but rushing him back from the treatment table is surely not the best way to facilitate that.