As Alexis Sanchez returns to training... every time Arsene Wenger has said Chilean is staying at Arsenal

Alexis Sanchez is back in London and after a summer of ceaseless speculation is about to come face-to-face with Arsene Wenger.

It promises to be an uncomfortable encounter for the 28-year-old after a summer in which he has suggested on more than one occasion that he wants to leave Arsenal.

Wenger, however, has stood firm and insisted on no less than nine occasions since his final pre-match press conference of last season that Sanchez would not be leaving this summer, even if that means losing him on a free when his contract expires next year.

The Arsenal manager’s critics would point to similar comments made before Cesc Fabregas, Samir Nasri and Robin van Persie said their Emirates farewells. Wenger has acknowledged as much but insists this time is different.

Time will tell whether Arsenal will really risk losing their star player on a free next summer – and indeed whether Sanchez is willing to spend another season in north London – but Wenger would certainly have a lot of comments to explain should the Chilean be wearing a Manchester City shirt come September.

Standard Sport recaps Wenger's comments on Sanchez this summer below...

“[Ozil and Sanchez] are part of the results as well. Like I am. Overall, I think first of all they are under contract and secondly they behave like they want to be in the Champions League and like they want to be at the club.

“They don’t behave like players who are disinterested in the future of the club.”

“This summer... first of all [Sanchez and Ozil] will stay at the club and hopefully we can extend their contract.

“You know you cannot weaken the club and weaken the team and you want to strengthen the team.

“Unless you find a player of the same calibre, if they want absolutely to leave... so I believe at the moment we are not on that front, we are just focused on keeping the players and the team together, and see how to strengthen the team.”

“The easiest way to manage the players in the final year of their contracts is it's in his interest to do as well as he can.

“Nobody knows today if Sanchez will be in the final year of his contract next season because he can as well extend his contract with us at the start of the season or during the season.

“It's not necessarily the last year of his contract at Arsenal Football Club.”

“There is not a lot to resolve with the player [to leave]. I have spoken through text and it was very positive. My thoughts are always positive.”

“The decision has been made and we will stick to that. The decision is not to sell.

“Every case is different, Van Persie was going from 30 to 31 [sic – the Dutch striker was 29 when he joined Manchester United], when he left he had one year on his contract - Sanchez is younger.”

On reports of a meeting between Paris St Germain and Sanchez: “It is only media imagination.

“I don't think it makes any difference [whether Arsenal sell to an English or foreign team].”

“I don’t think [Sanchez] was in Paris [last week]. Paris Saint-Germain cannot get Sanchez so they go for Neymar.

“I read L’Equipe in the last three to four days and it has moved from Sanchez to Neymar. You know they are speaking about Neymar, a few days they were speaking about Sanchez. They need a subject to write about.

“My mind has been made up for a while now. I think I’ve made it clear a few times that he is not for sale and this is my stance.”

“There are no developments [over his future]. It’s always the same. He’s staying of course.”

“Nobody knows if Sanchez will not extend his contract here. The performance on the day does not depend on the length of the contract. If that was true we would sign everyone for 20 years.

“One day he will go and Arsenal will go on. We will all go one day and Arsenal will go on. Hopefully.

“Of course I think he’ll stay. How many times have I said that?”