Arsenal injury news: Arsene Wenger expects Alexis Sanchez to feature against Manchester City

Arsene Wenger believes that Alexis Sanchez has a chance to feature against Manchester City in an all important top-of-the-table clash at the Emirates on 21 December. The Gunners have managed to tide over a tricky run of fixtures, winning their last two games in the league after taking only two points from a possible nine in the previous three.

Alexis had to be taken off against Norwich after a hamstring problem and has since travelled to Chile to continue his rehabilitation. Wenger had revealed before the game that the Chilean had picked up a slight twinge in that area but was fit to start against the Canaries, something that backfired on him as the game progressed. However, the Gunners have coped well without the 26-year-old, winning comfortably against Olympiacos in mid-week, which confirmed their participation in the knockout stages of the Champions League.

There is still substantial doubt over his participation, with the medical team divided on giving him the go-ahead next week, but Wenger, who is well versed with the Chilean's desire to break sweat at every opportunity, is hopeful that he can play some part in a game that can arguably define the Gunners' season.

The north London club are going through a crisis of sorts in terms of injuries, with seven players currently on the treatment table, but Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck, Mikel Arteta and Alexis are due in the next few days. Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin and Tomas Rosicky remain the long-term absentees with the January transfer window expected to be a busy one for the manager.

"It's a big game, we want to win and beat City at home. It will be an interesting one but we at least can recover first and have eight days to prepare," the Arsenal manager said, as quoted by the Telegraph. "The closest player to have a chance [of being fit] is Sánchez but my medical people think he won't be ready. Sánchez being Sánchez, though, you never know."