Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez 'doubtful for Chile against Uruguay game' due to calf injury

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has been dealt a new fitness blow after reports in Chile revealed that Alexis Sanchez is a doubt for the World Cup 2018 qualifier game against Uruguay on Tuesday (17 November) due to "a contracture in the calf of his right leg". El Mercurio reports that the Gunners forward has already missed the last training sessions of the national team due to this problem and that manager Jorge Sampaoli may be forced to rest him against the Uruguayans.

Sanchez played the full 90 minutes of the 1-1 draw against Colombia on Friday but has since struggled with problems in his calf. The report claims that the Arsenal star missed both the Saturday and the Sunday training sessions while wearing an icepack.

National team physio Jose Amador is trying to get him ready for the game against Uruguay but El Mercurio adds that Jorge Sampaoli has already been working with Fabian Orellana as potential replacement because his participation remains doubtful.

The news is also a major concern for his club manager Wenger ahead of a busy week for the Gunners as they get set to visit West Bromwich Albion on Saturday before a crucial Champions League home match with Dinamo Zagreb on 24 November.

Just before the international break Wenger expressed his concerns over Sanchez's fitness due to the numbers of games he had played in the start of the season, having already suffered some injury concerns in his groin on October while also playing for the national team.

The Mirror recently reported that the French boss was even considering granting him a mid-season break due to burnout fears, in order to let him to recharge his batteries and get back to his best ahead of the festive season.