EPL – Arsene Wenger: Alexis nears Arsenal return

Arsene Wenger has revealed that Alexis Sanchez is “very close” to returning to first team action with Arsenal, though he will not risk playing featuring him in Wednesday’s league tie against Liverpool. He should be available for the clash with Stoke City on Sunday.

The winger has been out of action since November after limping off with a hamstring problem.

The North Londoners have moved to the pinnacle of the Premier League and progressed to the 4^th round of the FA Cup in his absence and his return will serve as significant boost to the title aspiration of the Gunners.

"We should have [Mesut] Ozil and [Mathieu] Flamini available [for Liverpool]. [David] Ospina will be tested and for Sanchez I think the Liverpool game will come too soon," Wenger told reporters.

"He has a chance for Stoke and he is going very well. [Tomas] Rosicky is back in full training so the situation is getting better.

"[Sanchez] has always asked me to play but if you listen to him he can always play even when he's injured.