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Arsene Wenger claims Alexis Sanchez will have to earn a starting role because there is “no hierarchy” at Arsenal.
The Chilean played the full 90 minutes in Arsenal 1-0 win over Doncaster in mid-week as he closes in on full-fitness.
Sanchez was denied a summer switch to Manchester City on deadline day. Despite the club’s agreeing a fee of £60m, Arsenal failed to recruit Sanchez’s replacement Thomas Lemar from Monaco.
After receiving an extended summer break, Sanchez missed the start of the season through injury but his manager Wenger said: “You could see he’s coming back sharp” (as reported by BBC Sport).
The Frenchman added: “He came back not really fit and then he got injured.
“If you add the injury plus the rest time it was a bit long, but on Wednesday night I left him on the pitch for 90 minutes because I wanted him to have a real go.”
Sanchez completed 90 minutes against Doncaster on Wednesday.
The 28 year-old has been a figure on the substitutes bench for back-to-back Premier League games, including Arsenal’s all important clash with Chelsea last Sunday.
When questioned whether Sanchez is key to his plans, Wenger replied: “Not more than any other. There is no real hierarchy.
“I used the team at Chelsea who could be strong on the counter-attack and fight very hard. Sanchez could have played if he was 100% fit from the start.
“I have six or seven strikers but if I go in one game with three strikers, the three who have not played will play in mid-week no matter what game that is. But that is nothing calculated.
“There is no disguised attitude on my side.”
