Arsene Wenger reveals Alexis Sanchez may be fit for Sunderland after injury scare

Arsene Wenger has revealed that he expects Alexis Sanchez to be available for Arsenal's game against Sunderland on Tuesday (16 May) after the forward had to come off against Stoke City with a kick to his thigh.

During the Stoke City game, the Chilean signalled to the bench that he wanted to be substituted, but the Frenchman kept him on for some more time and was rewarded with a goal as Alexis put the game beyond doubt with a third and his first of the game.

The former Barcelona man had earlier teed up Mesut Ozil for the second goal and was an influential figure in the entirety of the game as the Gunners secured another three points to keep their hopes alive of a Champions League spot.

On whether he was planning to take Alexis off, Wenger said on Arsenal's official website, "I didn't plan to take him off, he asked to come off. First, I thought he had done a stomach muscle, so I thought that it would maybe go away again. I left him on for a little bit to see how he responded. After that, he stayed on and scored another goal. That's Alexis, he's a fighter who always finds resources. He delivered the third goal which made the difference."

He added about the injury, "It's a kick on the thigh."

When the gaffer was asked if Sanchez is a doubt for Tuesday's game, Wenger said, as quoted by the Mirror, "I don't think so."

The north London club face Sunderland and Everton in their next two games and will need Liverpool to drop points if they have to make it through to Europe's top club competition.

Arsenal fans will hoping that they can reach an agreement with both Ozil and Alexis over their long term futures at the club. The duo's contract with the club expire in just over a year and their absence will deal a massive blow to the Gunners' hopes of winning a major title in the near future.