Community Shield: Wenger Reveals Why Sanchez Didn’t Feature

Arsenal talisman, Alexis Sanchez faces a race to be fit for the club’s Premier League opener against Leicester on Friday after sitting out the Community Shield, Arsene Wenger has confirmed.

The Chile international was one of a number of players given a watching brief on Sunday as the Gunners beat Chelsea on penalties to lift the Community Shield at Wembley.

Sanchez only returned to pre-season training on Tuesday following his involvement in the Confederations Cup.

Asked whether the absentees would feature against the Foxes on Friday, Wenger said: “Overall, we will see.

“I left them all out because some are short of preparation like Alexis Sanchez.

“Mesut had a kick on his ankle which was swollen and he couldn’t practise yesterday. He has a little chance to play on Friday night.

“Ramsey has a chance but I think he could be short as well.”

In the absence of Sanchez, summer signing Alexandre Lacazette impressed on his first competitive game for the Gunners.

The Frenchman was unfortunate not to score his first goal on English soil, striking the post in the first half at the end of a flowing counter-attack.

“Lacazette is stronger every week,” Wenger added. “He had an interesting game today. I believe today is the first time that you have seen physically that he is ready.

“He still needs to adapt to the intensity of the game but overall he had very interesting moves and I believe that after what we have seen today he will become stronger and stronger.”

Another Gunner who caught the eye was summer recruit Sead Kolasinac.

The Bosnian, brought on in place of the injured Per Mertesacker, endeared himself to the Gunners faithful with a robust performance, littered with energetic runs from deep and capped by scoring the equaliser.

“He came on well. He is normally a wing-back, full-back but he can as well play as a centre-back,” Wenger said.

“He had a very interesting performance last week and I had a hesitation about playing him because I thought maybe Wembley with the pressure, but when he came on he was outstanding.

“He is physical very strong, naturally. You have players who are pumped up in the gym and you have players who are born strong. He is the second part.

“In the Premier League the power plays a part but it is not only that. I took him too because of attitude.

“The game does not tolerate as many weaknesses as it did 20 years ago. You need the combination of talent and attitude.

“He looks to me like he has the talent but also has a very strong attitude.”