Arsene Wenger did not refute a suggestion Arsenal were helped by the absences of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez following his side’s 0-0 draw with Chelsea.
The duo were missing from the starting XI at Stamford Bridge with Ozil struggling with a slight knee injury and Sanchez still to return to full fitness. The German was missing from the squad and replaced by Alex Iwobi while Sanchez was on the bench with Danny Welbeck starting the game.
Despite their absences Arsenal put in an impressive, controlled performance against Chelsea that many thought they were incapable of – particularly after their 4-0 loss to Liverpool in their previous away match.
In the aftermath of the game, Wenger was asked if it was helpful that Ozil and Sanchez weren’t fit to start as it enabled him to field a more defensively minded team.
Rather than refute the suggestion his side may have been hampered had his two most high profile players been fit, Wenger replied: ‘I don’t know.’
He added: ‘You want always your great players to be with you and both of them are great players but they need to be in good shape.’
Arsenal are next in action in midweek when they play Doncaster Rovers in the League Cup. They then host West Brom at the Emirates in the Monday night fixture after next weekend.
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