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Alexis Sanchez fit to play against Liverpool - but will it be his final game for Arsenal?

Alexis Sanchez is now fit and available - Getty Images Europe
Alexis Sanchez is now fit and available - Getty Images Europe

Arsene Wenger is considering bringing both Alexis Sanchez and Laurent Koscielny straight back into his starting Arsenal team against Liverpool on Sunday.

His best defender and striker have both trained fully this week, after missing the opening two Premier League games of the season, and he is convinced also that Sanchez is in the optimum frame of mind to play ahead of the final week of the transfer window.

Sanchez, who has been absent with an abdominal strain, is the subject of interest from Manchester City but Wenger is resolved to keeping him and believes that he can still persuade him to sign a new contract once the transfer window closes.

Alexis Sanchez (left) is wanted by Man City - Credit: GETTY IMAGES
Alexis Sanchez (left) is wanted by Man City Credit: GETTY IMAGES

“He works very hard, he is focused and gives absolutely everything,” said Wenger. “He loves to play so much that it is sometimes difficult to stop him but he looks absolutely ready.” 

Of Sanchez’s mindset, Wenger said: “He has always been focused on his job, he loves to play football and I don’t think he is too disturbed by all the [external] noises that happen. Players at that level are used to it now; some deal better with it than others but I don’t think he is too bothered by that.

“The fact that he goes into the last year of his contract does not mean we have no chance to extend it.

“At the moment we have not managed to do it, but we just want to focus as a team and not look too much at the individual conditions of the contracts of everybody because what is important is what you want to achieve forever.”

Asked whether Sanchez would be an Arsenal player once the window closes and he returns from international duty with Chile, Wenger added simply: “Yes.” 

Koscielny has been suspended since being sent off in the final Premier League game of last season after also missing the FA Cup final win against Chelsea.