Alexis Sanchez Colin Lewin Arsenal
Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez could return from the injury picked up in the Premier League game against NorwichReuters

If Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger will take a risk with Alexis Sanchez is the big question going into the big English Premier League game against Manchester City at the Emirates on Monday.

Sanchez has been missing from the Arsenal lineup since picking up a hamstring injury in the Premier League game against Norwich City late last month.

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The star forward flew back home to Chile to recuperate and having returned to London, the most pertinent question at Wenger's press conference was always going to be if Sanchez would be fit enough to play against Manchester City.

"He is running but not participating in full training," was Wenger's answer to that question.

Pressed further on the subject, Wenger said Sanchez believes he can play against City, but the manager himself is a little reluctant, even if there are still three and a bit days remaining for the big fixture.

"I believe that is normal that he wants to play," Wenger added. "You want him to be keen to play. He respects all the decisions I make and that is what I want from him.

"It is not trust in a negative way. Some of them are so keen to forget that they have pain somewhere that they say they are alright when they are not.

"You know the players and their psychological profile, you take that into account, then you get scientific advice and you trust your gut as well and then you make a decision.

"[I will make the decision], because he says he's always ready."

Wenger will do well to not take a risk on Sanchez, because, while this match is important, it is not a fixture that will decide the Premier League title race.

Arsenal are currently a point ahead of Manchester City and a couple behind leaders Leicester City, who could extend their lead further with a positive result against Everton on Saturday.

In other injury news, Wenger confirmed all the players who featured in the matchday squad against Aston Villa last weekend are fit, meaning the absentee list remains the same, even if it is still a lengthy one, with Tomas Rosicky, Santi Cazorla, Mikel Arteta, Francis Coquelin, Jack Wilshere and Danny Welbeck among them on the treatment table.