Sunderland vs Arsenal: Alexis Sanchez must get used to being substituted as 'he's not a special case'

Sanchez has shown frustration with being replaced by Wenger but the Arsenal manager insists he needs to manage his fitness to get the most out of the striker

Alexis Sanchez has displayed his frustration when being substituted by Arsene Wenger (Getty)

Arsene Wenger has warned Alexis Sanchez he will not be exempt from the Arsenal manager’s plans to rotate his squad, no matter how frustrated the player has been at being withdrawn in recent games.

Sanchez’s form in a central striker role has been one of the main factors behind Arsenal’s impressive start to the season that could see Wenger’s side move to the head of the Premier League table if they avoid defeat in Saturday’s lunchtime kick-off at Sunderland.

Wenger is anxious to maintain the South American’s fitness and avoid a repeat of last season when Sanchez was ruled out for two months after suffering a hamstring injury at Norwich, just days after first feeling the injury in a Champions League meeting with Dinamo Zagreb. And that means the manager will not afford the player special treatment despite Sanchez’s reaction to being taken off the latter stages of the victories over Swansea and Ludogrets earlier this month.

“For me he is not a special case. He is a player like everybody else,” said Wenger. “When I decide to take him off, I take him off. There is no special case. He has his own character but he is not treated differently from everybody else.

“We test the fatigue level of everybody, for example I tested Sanchez because he played two games in South America and sometimes I rest him straight away after. I played him the other day against Swansea so I thought I would take him off when it is possible.

“We consider every case individually and as well, some positions are more demanding. Up front you provoke, at the back you respond. Sometimes you can choose to go or not to go at the back. Up front if you don't move you create nothing. So there are positions that are more demanding on the energy front.”

Sanchez’s performances in a more central role have brought a different dynamic to Arsenal this season and Wenger admits he has now been convinced of the Chile international’s future in that position.

“I see him there, because he is the kind of guy who can make things happen,” said the manager. “He has a good technique and can always create something. He has a good mixture between scoring and giving the final ball. For my taste, he still comes too much to the ball, because Alexis Sanchez likes to have the ball. And we have enough playmakers in our team.

“We would want him to have a better balance, but we do not want to forbid him to come to the ball, but to get in a few more off the ball runs. But that’s why when we have Theo Walcott it balances well, because when he comes, Walcott goes. This is a good mixture, a good working unit.”

Sanchez will have to get used to Wenger replacing him as he tries to manage his fitness (Getty)

Wenger’s options up front continue to be stretched despite the return of Olivier Giroud following a toe injury. Lucas Perez, the £17m summer signing from Deportivo La Coruna has been ruled out for up to eight weeks after damaging ankle ligaments following a challenge by Reading’s Danzell Gravenberch this week. “He is absolutely gutted, because it’s an injury coming from nowhere, and a stupid one, because it was a deliberate kick,” said Wenger.