Football
Mattias Karen, Arsenal correspondent 7y

Alexis Sanchez to return to Arsenal training on Sunday - Wenger

Alexis Sanchez will begin preseason training with Arsenal on Sunday after returning from his holiday, manager Arsene Wenger has said.

Sanchez and centre-back Shkodran Mustafi are the last two fit first-team members to report back to the Gunners after they played in the Confederations Cup final between Chile and Germany.

Wenger said the duo will take part in a training session while the rest of the team play against Sevilla in the Emirates Cup.

"Alexis and Mustafi, their first training session will be on Sunday," Wenger told the Arsenal website. "They are practising on the day."

Sanchez has been the subject of transfer speculation this summer as the Chile forward has yet to sign a contract extension, with his current deal expiring in 2018, but Wenger has repeatedly ruled out selling his top scorer.

Despite their late return, Sanchez and Mustafi both have 12 days to get ready for the team's Premier League opener against Leicester. However, Wenger was cautious when estimating how soon the duo will be back in the line-up.

"First of all you make a really good check-up of where they are, how much they have worked during their break," he said. "After, once you know where you stand, they need an adjusted programme and to see how quickly you can fit them in again.

"Of course it depends as well on what is the need in the squad, what is their quality. All of these things together make your decision. Do you put them on the bench when they are not ready [to start]?

"It is easier to put a striker on the bench than a defender, sometimes. Because in a short period they can make an impact. We'll see."

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