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Alexis Sanchez ready for Arsenal comeback at Liverpool but Arsene Wenger admits Thomas Lemar move is dead

Gunners boss set to throw Sanchez in for first start of the season despite Manchester City interest but admits he has no chance in capturing Monaco ace Lemar

ARSENE WENGER says Alexis Sanchez is ready to make his first appearance of the season when Arsenal face Liverpool on Sunday.

Wenger is set to throw his unsettled forward in from the start at Anfield despite fears he might quit the club for Manchester City.

 Alexis Sanchez is fit to make his first appearance of the season against Liverpool
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Alexis Sanchez is fit to make his first appearance of the season against LiverpoolCredit: Getty - Contributor
 Arsene Wenger is ready to throw in Alexis Sanchez from the start at Anfield despite his striker being unsettled at the club
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Arsene Wenger is ready to throw in Alexis Sanchez from the start at Anfield despite his striker being unsettled at the clubCredit: Rex Features

Sanchez is now in the last year of his contract at the Emirates and City are keen to sign him this month if they persuade the Gunners to do business.

But despite expecting a late bid from City to come in for the Chilean ace, Wenger intends to throw his talisman back in from the off in the crucial clash with Liverpool.

Wenger said: "Sanchez has worked very hard to be back again and is available.
"He works very hard, very focused, gives absolutely everything he loves so much to play.

"He looks ready.

"He has not played for a long time, so I will have to decide what to do with him, but he is ready to play.

"We have to make that decision. We play on Sunday, overall he looks in good shape he has worked very hard.

 Alexis Sanchez has trained well this week and is pushing for a start at Anfield
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Alexis Sanchez has trained well this week and is pushing for a start at AnfieldCredit: Getty

"He has always been focused on his job. He loves to play football he is not too much disturbed by the noise around him.

"He is one of those players not too bothered by that.

 Arsene Wenger says Alexis Sanchez has been fully committed in training
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Arsene Wenger says Alexis Sanchez has been fully committed in trainingCredit: Getty

"He is focused and happy. The fact he goes into the last year of his contract doesn’t mean we have no chance to extend it, at the moment we haven’t managed to do that."

While Wenger is confident he will keep hold of Sanchez during the transfer window, he admits he now has no chance of completing the signing of Monaco winger Thomas Lemar.

 Arsene Wenger admits he has given up hope of signing Thomas Lemar
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Arsene Wenger admits he has given up hope of signing Thomas LemarCredit: Getty

The Gunners were hoping to sign the French international in a £40million deal, but Monaco have made it clear they do  not want to do business.

Wenger added: "It’s dead because Monaco don’t want to sell.

"There is lots going on there with Mbappe and Fabinho, they lost already Mendy, Silva, and Bakayoko so Monaco is at a stage where they have closed the door."

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