Alexis Sanchez is a surprise inclusion on the Arsenal bench for today's game with West Ham United.

The Chilean was not expected to take part in the first few games of the season after spending his summer inspiring his nation to victory in the Copa America.

But Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who had this week confirmed

, has found him a place in the matchday squad.

"I think Alexis

in a good shape," Wenger said on Friday.

"Will he not be involved at all on Sunday? I don’t know yet. It depends a little bit on what I see tomorrow and who will be available. He understands that perfectly well.

In pictures: Alexis Sanchez back in training

"He is one of the players who played the World Cup, came back here and played the whole season without a break, goes to the Copa America and basically cannot start the season. At some stage you need to give these players a rest or they get serious injuries."

"The difficult nowadays is to find holidays for the players. In the FIFA rules, you have to give four weeks holiday to your players. Soon, if you want to do that, you start the season with the youth team because all your players should be on holiday when you start the season.

"If you make it earlier and the competition lasts longer…next season the European Championship plays with 24 teams and that makes the competition last longer. It lasts nearly a month now. So it will finish later and we will start the season earlier and that means the players have no holiday.