Arsenal boss Wenger hails ‘remarkable’ Alexis

Arsenal’s Alexis Sanchez is just too ‘remarkable’ a player to be left on the bench – according to boss Arsene Wenger.

Despite only returning from international duty less than 48 hours ahead of the clash with Manchester United last weekend, the Chilean went straight into the starting line-up at Old Trafford.

And although he was recovering from a hamstring injury, the 27-year-old played the full 90 minutes as Olivier Giroud nodded home a late leveller for the Gunners.

Wenger admits that Sanchez is too integral to his plans to be left on the bench, particularly for such a big game against their rivals.

“It’s very unusual [to play someone after that],” Wenger said. “I chose him because Alexis is a guy who can take people on and I knew that would be a quality that would work. He is good on the counter-attack, good in short spaces as well. He’s always a player who is not scared of anybody.

(Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“He played very well in the first half but we didn’t give him enough service in the second half because we dropped off too much and we played too many balls in our own half. We didn’t give him enough support by coming out more. For a guy who played a decisive game on Wednesday morning, and then travelling after, it’s remarkable.”