Arsene Wenger could have prevented Alexis Sanchez injury, says Charlie Nicholas
Tuesday 1 December 2015 13:41, UK
Charlie Nicholas has defended Arsene Wenger's decision to play Alexis Sanchez against Norwich but does feel missed opportunities to rest the forward have proved costly.
The Chile star suffered a hamstring injury - the severity of which is not yet known - an hour into the Gunners' 1-1 draw at Norwich on Super Sunday, having played 61 games for club and country in the last 12 months.
Former Arsenal striker Nicholas believes that Wenger had the chance to rest Sanchez in the midweek Champions League clash against Dinamo Zagreb with his side 2-0 up and cruising before half-time.
He told Sky Sports: "I stand by what I said on the Soccer Special on Wednesday night, he should have taken him off after an hour.
"After the game Wenger said he had a slight issue with Olivier Giroud and Hector Bellerin but Sanchez is the most important player of the three and should have been brought off when the game was dead.
"I don't blame him for the Norwich game, as much as he's talking up Joel Campbell, as managers do, he wasn't ready to step up and be playing instead when the Premier League is so competitive.
"Sanchez certainly can't blame Wenger. He said he was fine and the thing with hamstrings is you feel it tighten up first when it starts to get tired and then it goes.
"If he was fit enough to be on the bench, which a lot of people are suggesting he should have been, then he's fit enough to be starting, but it's that hour mark when the fatigue starts to kick in. He might not have been in that situation if he hadn't played the full 90 midweek.
"It's obviously a big blow but you'd like to think they would be able to cope with Sunderland and Aston Villa next, especially with Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain coming back to fitness. Francis Coquelin's injury is a bigger concern."
The Soccer Saturday pundit also felt that Jeff Reine-Adelaide should have been given a chance against Zagreb, tipping the 17-year-old as a future star for the Gunners.
He added: "He should have put Adelaide on at 2-0 and introduce him to the home support. He's a really exciting young player and will be a big player for the club. Wenger missed a trick by not giving him a chance and resting Sanchez."
