Arsenal vs Leicester preview - Sanchez can 'fire Gunners to glory'
Posted Wednesday, February 11, 2015 by PA
Arsene Wenger feels Alexis Sanchez has both the work-rate and the enthusiastic personality to help fire Arsenal to a successful campaign - just like former club favourite Ian Wright.
Sanchez has been forced to sit out the last two matches because of a hamstring strain and Wenger admitted the industry of the Chile forward was clearly missed as his side went down 2-1 in Saturday's north London derby at Tottenham.
The 26-year-old, who has plundered 18 goals since a B£32million summer move from Barcelona, is expected to be back in the side for Tuesday night's visit of Barclays Premier League strugglers Leicester.
Gunners boss Wenger revealed Sanchez has been just as big an influence in the dressing room as on the pitch.
"He is more with the Spanish players of course, but he is loved by everybody. He is very friendly and bubbly every day," said Wenger.
"He is a bit like Ian Wright, with his enthusiasm.
"Alexis is quieter than Ian Wright - but that is not difficult and he doesn't get booked!"
Wenger continued: "He is dynamic and he does both parts of the game, he wins you the ball back quickly as well, so the transitions are very good from defence to attack and attack to defence.
"He is important in the team because of that."
Wenger revealed Sanchez was desperate to play through the pain barrier, but insisted there must always be a long-term view weighed up against any potential short-term gain.
"For us it is important that he has no setback as once you go into February, if you have a muscular injury and a guy has a setback, you say 'bye bye' as the season is over as it is six weeks out," said Wenger.
"By the time you come back to your full level it is April and that is why we didn't take the gamble."
Wenger is confident Arsenal can quickly get the poor display at Tottenham out of their system, having gone into the match on the back of five straight victories.
Indeed the Gunners could once again leapfrog local rivals Spurs - who travel to Liverpool - and end up in third come full-time on Tuesday night.
"We scored an early goal (at Tottenham) and subconsciously we accepted we had to defend - that is not our game," he said.
"We all want to try to have the ball."
Midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain (groin) is still out for the Gunners.
England international Jack Wilshere is scheduled to resume training following ankle surgery. Mikel Arterta (ankle), Abou Diaby (calf) and Mathieu Debuchy (shoulder) all also continue their rehabilitation.
Robert Huth is in the Leicester squad for their trip and could make his Foxes debut at the Emirates.
The defender, on loan from Stoke, has completed a two-game suspension after being banned by the Football Association for breaching its social media regulations.
Goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (broken foot) remains an absentee and Chris Wood is still struggling with an ankle injury for the rock-bottom Foxes.
Leicester boss Nigel Pearson has rounded on Match of the Day pundits after his scuffle with James McArthur.
The Foxes boss, who was rumoured to have been sacked on Sunday, has accused them of making "a mountain out of a molehill".
Pearson is unhappy with former Leicester player and presenter Gary Lineker and guests Danny Murphy and Jermaine Jenas for their interpretation of his flashpoint with McArthur.
The pair clashed during the Eagles' 1-0 win at Leicester on Saturday after the midfielder collided with the manager, and Pearson appeared to grab McArthur by the throat before holding his shirt.
Lineker called it "strange" and Murphy questioned whether there was an "underlying" issue after McArthur's transfer from Wigan to Leicester collapsed in the summer.
Pearson said: "I thought they were slightly disruptive, yes. I don't care what they think of me, I pay my tax bills. I didn't see it until the morning.
"It's not helpful when the three fountains of knowledge on Match of the Day make a mountain out of a molehill, there's nothing in that on Saturday. The lad's okay and it was very light-hearted.
"He has said that too. It was all very light-hearted, if you see the pictures it was with smiles.
"He's a likeable lad who dealt with it well afterwards. He explained there was nothing going on.
"These things happen. I have had both my knees replaced and I did take quite a nasty tumble.
"I think there's been a disproportionate amount of coverage about one or two negative things which have happened."
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