Arsene Wenger admits 'strange' feeling ahead of Alexis Sanchez reunion

Posted Sunday, April 29, 2018 by Express.co.uk

Arsene Wenger admits 'strange' feeling ahead of Alexis Sanchez reunion
Alexis Sanchez is facing Arsenal for the first time since leaving

ARSENE WENGER admits it will be strange to face Alexis Sanchez this weekend.

The Manchester United star is preparing for his first clash against Arsenal since leaving north London in January.

Sanchez featured 122 times for the Gunners after arriving from Barcelona.

But it was a sour end for the Chilean, who refused to sign a new contract at the club.

However, Wenger clearly harbours no ill feeling towards Sanchez.

"It's strange for me to see him in a different shirt because he had a strong bond with the club and of course he was here for a few years," he told Arsenal's official website.

"He did extremely well for us.

"The only thing that has not changed is the colour, that's still red."

Arsenal benefitted from Sanchez's desire to leave the club, exchanging the wantaway star for Henrikh Mkhitaryan.

And Wenger reveals the club were pleased with the eventual deal.

"At the time, he didn't accept our contract offer and the best possible way where we could get something for his departure was to make an exchange for a player of the quality of Mkhitaryan," he added.

"For him, it was a move to another big club.

"Both parties had interest to do what happened."