Arsenal vs Aston Villa team news: Alexis Sanchez 'unlikely' to play, Danny Welbeck return, Gabriel Paulista in the squad

The Chile forward Sanchez has a hamstring injury

Alexis Sanchez in action for Arsenal

Alexis Sanchez may finally miss a game for Arsenal as he struggles with a hamstring injury ahead of Sunday’s game with Aston Villa.

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Sanchez has started 32 games already this season, his first season in English football, and came off the bench against Brighton and Hove Albion on Sunday. But he is unlikely to feature on Sunday. “We will test him tomorrow,” Wenger confirmed at his press conference this morning. “It is unlikely that I will risk him on Sunday. We’ll see.”

Danny Welbeck has been out for one month with a thigh injury and Wenger said he had a slim chance of playing on Sunday, but was likelier to be ready for the derby against Tottenham Hotspur next Saturday. “He’s very short,” Wenger said. “He could be available for Sunday maybe, but it would be a big gamble after such a long time out. He’s definitely available for next week.”

The Spurs game will come too soon for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain while Jack Wilshere should join the main group after the derby as he recovers from an ankle injury.

Wenger said that £12million defender Gabriel will come straight into the squad after arriving from Villarreal. “He’s ready to go,” Wenger said. “He’ll be in the squad certainly. He started training yesterday and he looks fit.”

“What I saw was a great quality for a defender. His level of concentration, he’s physically able to adapt to the Premier League because he is quite a good size and is quick as well, he has great commitment in the challenges and he’s young. He’s 24 years old and that’s a good age for a central defender as well.”