While the Gunners pushed for a victor which would put them level on points with league-leaders Manchester City, the hosts were always a threat.
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His availability would represent a boost with Arsenal, fourth in the Premier League table, saddled by a troubling injury list.
The Frenchman also cited a lack of options in attacking areas as a reason for why Sanchez was selected and, after praising him for being aware of how far he can push himself in the build up to the game, was happy to trust his players’ own opinion.
“Hector Bellerin, I took him off because he had a groin problem just before so I had to take them off meaning I could not take Alexis off. We now have five days to recover”.
“In the first half he [Cazorla] got a kick on the knee and it got worse”, added Wenger.
On moving forward after the disappointment, he said, “We have to go through that spell”. It’s not enough, but we have an opportunity to come back.
Injury-hit Arsenal have lost three more key players during their 1-1 draw against Norwich City in the Premier League on Sunday. I must say with all humility we are not in a position where we can predict (injuries) despite all our tests.
Our players begin to fall to pieces and the results start to nosedive.
“We made some mistakes that cost us the game and we need to look at ourselves and realise that this is not the way”.
All-time top scorer Henry, who is now working as a youth coach at the club, says he sympathises with Wenger if Sanchez told the boss he was ready to play.
In spite of the disappointing draw, Aaron Ramsey felt good to get more minutes under his belt. Wenger has handed several youngster chances to impress this term, with the likes of Ismael Bennacer, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Alex Iwobi, Glen Kamara and Isaac Hayden all handed game time.
But he started on Sunday and Arsenal’s injury problems worsened in what Wenger said was a “below par performance”. “I don’t know if he has jaded his knee ligament or it was just a kick on the nerve but the worrying thing was it got worse during the game”.
Gunners playmaker Alexis Sanchez became the latest member of Arsene Wenger’s squad to break down. The extent of the Spanish midfielder’s injury is still unclear but the club rate him as unlikely to make the trip to Greece next week, depriving Arsenal of the brains of their side. But they hardly play with best 11.
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“Getting the balance right for us was important”.
