Arsene Wenger is confident Alexis Sanchez will be fit and fine to face PSG in the Champions League on Wednesday. The Arsenal forward started the game against Manchester United, despite doubts over his right hamstring, and Wenger is all set to play the Chile international in this winner-tops-the-group game at the Emirates.
Arsenal host PSG in Group A, and while both teams have already qualified for the last 16, the team that takes the three points from this match will go through as the group winners.
Considering Arsenal will want to avoid finishing second in the group again, Wenger will expect his side to go all out for all three points, and in such circumstances, Sanchez is vital to the team's fortunes.
Asked if it was a risk to play Sanchez against Manchester United, Wenger insisted the 27-year-old was passed fit by the physios. "He came back with a bit of tightness in his hamstring, but he was checked thoroughly before the game," Wenger said. "I follow the instructions of the medical staff and the player.
"After that, I make a decision whether he can play."
Despite Olivier Giroud scoring after coming on from the bench again, it does look like Sanchez is likely to start as the centre-forward, with Wenger likely to go with a more attacking midfield this time around.
Santi Cazorla, so important to Arsenal due to his deep-lying playmaking role, though, remains absent, with Wenger unsure of when the Spain international will return from an Achilles problem. Hector Bellerin and Lucas Perez are also ruled out, while Per Mertesacker, Danny Welbeck and Chuba Akpom continue their rehabilitation from long-term injuries.
PSG were dealt a blow in their preparations for this game when their right-back Serge Aurier was denied entry into the UK owing to an assault conviction he received in September. Unai Emery will also have to do without Javier Pastore, Layvin Kurzawa and Adrien Rabiot, while former Manchester United and Real Madrid playmaker Angel Di Maria is a doubt with a thigh problem.
"Di Maria is going to training, but he's doubtful," Emery said. "He wants to play and if he doesn't experience any pain, then he is going to play.
"However, if it's a big risk then afterwards we need to talk to the physio, the doctor and the player himself."
Expected starting XI:
Arsenal: Ospina; Jenkinson, Mustafi, Koscielny, Monreal; Coquelin, Xhaka; Walcott, Ozil, Iwobi; Sanchez.
PSG: Areola; Meunier, Marquinhos, Thiago Silva, Maxwell; Verratti, Thiago Motta, Matuidi; Lucas, Cavani, Ben Arfa.
