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Alexis Sanchez injury latest: Arsenal forward provides boost ahead of FA Cup tie

Chile international should be available for match against Middlesbrough

Thursday 12 February 2015 17:15 GMT

Alexis Sanchez has recovered from a hamstring injury (Getty Images)

Alexis Sanchez's knee injury is not considered serious and the Arsenal striker is expected to be available for Sunday's FA Cup tie against Middlesbrough.

The news on Aaron Ramsey's latest hamstring strain is, however, less positive with the Gunners midfielder certain to be out for a fortnight at the very least.

Sanchez and Ramsey both had to be taken off in the second half of Arsenal's 2-1 win against Leicester on Tuesday.

Sanchez suffered a bang to his knee during the first half at the Emirates Stadium and Arsene Wenger was ready to substitute him at half-time but the Chilean insisted he could continue.

The 26-year-old was returning from a two-week lay-off with a hamstring problem but his latest setback is more of an impact injury and considered to be only a minor knock.

Sanchez could even play in this weekend's FA Cup fixture, although Wenger may choose to rest his leading scorer with a busy schedule to come.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Show all 22

1/22Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

David Ospina 6

He didn’t enjoy the runs of Schlupp or Mahrez but when he was tested by either of them he was good enough to prevent any sort of danger. He got very used to tame shots from outside the area that he collected every time.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Hector Bellerin 6

Attempted to get forward whenever he could and unlike against Tottenham he didn’t harm his defence because of it. He was guilty for not tracking Konchesky when the left-back burst forward down the left, though that was the only glaring error he made.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Laurent Koscielny 6

Opened the scoring for Arsenal and looked alert throughout the first half. He let the ball get away for him for Kramaric’s goal - similar to the way the ball got away from him when Kane scored the winner against Tottenham - but was untroubled other than that.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Per Mertesacker 6

Left his central defensive Koscielny with trouble to deal with on a couple of seasons but did brilliantly to get back and clear when it looked as though Schlupp would equalise for Leicester City. Cleared

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Nacho Monreal 5

Saw more of the play in the second half as Arsenal chose to alternate the wings more often than in the first half. For some reason he does seem rather cautious when going forward; rarely going as far as the byline.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Tomas Rosicky 6

Did what he usually does: consistently linking up the attack, while occasionally looking to spread the ball out to the flanks. Never under much pressure from Cambiasso who was meant to have been marked by.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Francis Coquelin 7

Quickly becoming a revelation for Arsenal. Since the FA Cup game against Brighton and Hove Albion he has played in every match and is almost a permanent fixture in the Arsenal midfield. Very effective when faced with James.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Santi Cazorla 6

Surprisingly he found it particularly difficult against James and Cambiasso, who it appeared had been selected to monitor and close down the Spanish midfielder at any given moment. Unable to play with as much freedom as usual, he went a little missing in the second half.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Alexis Sanchez 6

A constant pest to the Leicester City defence on his first game back after a hamstring injury. Upson, before he went off due to injury, was having to endure a torrid time marking the Chile international. He wasn’t match sharp but that was to be expected. Replaced by Giroud with over 20 minutes to go.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Mesut Ozil 6

It was his shot that forced Schwarzer to the ground and allowed Walcott to smash home. And although he provided the corner that was finished off by Koscielny, he did appear a little casual at times and seemed to be playing within himself.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Theo Walcott 7

Brilliant initiative to follow up Ozil’s shot which was pushed into his path by Schwarzer who was ground when the winger smashed past him. He is definitely now back to full match fitness and Konchesky certainly wasn’t impressed to be the one with the job of marking him.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Mark Schwarzer 5

Difficult to blame him for the first goal but could have done a little better to stop the ball falling to Walcott who smashed past him for Arsenal’s second.

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Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Danny Simpson 5

He was a little guilty of going inside to cover too often which allowed Ozil or Monreal a clear path to goal. He was lucky neither of them took advantage on several occasions.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Wes Morgan 4

Failed to mark Koscielny for Ozil’s corner and the France international subsequently sent Arsenal into the lead.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Robert Huth 6

In the centre of Leicester City’s five-man defence. He organised his back five well and when Giroud came on he didn’t give the France international enough space to create a nuisance of himself.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Matthew Upson 6

Replaced by Wasilewski in the second half after going off due to an injury. He had endured a tough time trying to keep Sanchez in his sights.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Paul Konchesky 6

Tried to get forward as much as possible. His brilliant pass in the first half required a full stretch clearance from Mertesacker to deny Schlupp the chance at scoring the equaliser. Unfortunately he didn’t have a quiet night with Walcott coming at him with pace.

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Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Riyad Mahrez 6

Dangerous against Monreal but didn’t do enough to threaten Ospina in the Arsenal goal.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Matty James 7

His prime objective was to stop Cazorla being as creative and offensive as possible. He did that to great effect and was one of Leicester City’s best players on the night.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Esteban Cambiasso 6

Allowed to push forward a little more than James, the midfielder helped to win back possession whenever Rosicky was a bit clumsy. He helped to provide Kramaric with support but sometimes found himself bypassed in midfield.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Jeff Schlupp 6

Should have done better to get to Konchesky’s pass in the first half. Against strong opposition you have to take your chances and Schlupp failed to do so.

Arsenal 2 Leicester 1 player ratings

Andrej Kramaric 6

Too his goal brilliantly but should have equalised in the last ten minutes. His tame lob was swiftly plucked out of the air by Ospina. To his credit he never stopped working.

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Ramsey's diagnosis is more severe.

The midfielder is undergoing tests from Arsenal's medical team but will not return before the Champions League last-16 first leg tie against Monaco on February 25.

The club are reluctant to place a timescale on Ramsey's recovery, particularly given the concerning regularity of the Welshman's fitness problems this season.

He missed three weeks after injuring his hamstring against Tottenham in September and was out for almost six weeks following a recurrence in December.

"Yes, it is his third hamstring injury this season," Wenger said after the game against Leicester.

"Last year it was a thigh injury but this year it's a recurrence of hamstrings.

"You cannot say it's not a worry because after a while the player doesn't play with the freedom in the mind.

"He's not overplayed. Before I just played him in every game but since he's had these problems, I'm a bit more cautious with him."

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