Arsene Wenger says he is not sending a message to Alexis Sanchez by giving him 90 minutes in League Cup clash with Doncaster: 'I'm just trying to get him back to full fitness'
- Alexis Sanchez played the whole game as Arsenal beat Doncaster Rovers
- The Chilean had been left out of the starting line-up against Chelsea
- Arsene Wenger insists he isn't trying to make point to Sanchez with his selection
Arsene Wenger insists he is not purposely antagonising Alexis Sanchez by playing him in the Europa League and Carabao Cup.
Sanchez has not started Arsenal’s past two Premier League games but did play in weaker teams in Europe and the League Cup.
The Chile striker is seeing out the final year of his contract before a likely move to Manchester City in January or in the summer.
Arsene Wenger speaks to the media ahead of Arsenal's clash with West Brom
Wenger said his team selections have not been designed to send a message to Alexis Sanchez
‘There’s no disguised attitude on my side. I just try to get him back to full fitness,’ said Wenger. ‘Last night you could see that he is coming back sharp now.’
'So I just try to give him competition and to get him back to his best, because I gave him a long holiday and after that long holiday this year he had a real rest.
'He came back not really fit, it took us time to get him back and then he got injured.
'If you add the injury plus the rest time it was a bit long, but last night (against Doncaster) you could see that he is coming back sharp now and I left him on the pitch as well for 90 minutes because I wanted him to have a real go.'
Wenger picked Sanchez for the League Cup game against Doncaster but not against Chelsea
Meanwhile, Wenger has dangled the carrot of a new contract to Jack Wilshere after the midfielder made his first start for the club in 13 months.
Wilshere, who spent last season on loan at Bournemouth, is in the final 12 months of his deal, but talks over an extension are yet to commence.
And Wenger said: 'I think he's an Arsenal man and an Arsenal player. He would certainly like to (stay here long term), I don't know, we haven't spoken about that because at the start of the season I thought we had to see how it evolves and see what kind of influence he can have in the squad throughout the season.'
The Frenchman revealed that Calum Chambers is set for a spell on the sidelines with a recurrence of a hip injury, while Danny Welbeck will definitely not be available for England in the next international break.
Theo Walcott, who came off during the win over Doncaster, is expected to be fit to face West Brom on Monday.
Sanchez is currently returning to full fitness after an early-season injury problem
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