Arsene Wenger has admitted that Alexis Sanchez was still suffering from his hamstring injury against Manchester United.
As if we couldn’t have guessed…
After sustaining a low-grade muscle injury while away with the Chile national team, Alexis was a doubt for the trip to Old Trafford. He’d faced Uruguay bandaged up and, despite scoring a brace, couldn’t have been fully healed in just days. He’s amazing but still human.
The thing is, when Arsene Wenger said the 27-year-old was a doubt for the United match, I don’t think anyone genuinely thought he wouldn’t play.
Therefore, when Alexis was photographed training the morning before the big day, no one was surprised. They knew, whether he was carrying an injury or not, he would at the very least travel because a) he’s too important not to and b) he would probably jog there if we’d left him behind anyway.
Sure enough, he started the game and was noticeably restricted with his pace. Still wrapped up and visibly awkward, it wasn’t nice to watch and it was a risk to play him when we have a fit Olivier Giroud on the bench who eventually scored the equaliser in the 89th minute when brought on.
Wenger also revealed Sanchez played at Old Trafford while still feeling the effects of the hamstring injury he suffered with Chile. #AFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) November 21, 2016
"It's very unusual [for me to use an injured player]," Wenger said. "But I did it because Sanchez is a guy who can take people on." #AFC
— Ben Dinnery (@BenDinnery) November 21, 2016
Do I blame Wenger? Not necessarily. Although he does make the final call, Alexis is a grown man and although he’ll always want to play, we’re trying to get him to sign a new contract. We need to make sure he’s happy and by telling a grown man what he does and doesn’t feel isn’t a great start.
What’s more is that it was Manchester United. If we’d been facing a less-important rival, perhaps we would have rested him. But we needed everyone.
I just hope this gamble doesn’t end in tears.