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Arsene Wenger

LONDON. — Arsene Wenger has warned Alexis Sanchez he will have to earn his place back in Arsenal’s starting line-up after his failed attempt to force a move to Manchester City.

Sanchez was close to joining City before last month’s transfer deadline after his refusal to sign a new contract convinced Wenger to sell him.

But the deal fell through when Arsenal were unable to land a replacement for Sanchez, leaving the Chile forward in the awkward position of having to remain with the Gunners at least until January.

Sanchez, out of contract at the end of the season, has yet to make a Premier League start following the transfer saga and found himself instead selected for recent Europa League and League Cup fixtures.

With West Bromwich Albion visiting the Emirates Stadium tonight, Wenger insisted the 28-year-old would only return to his strongest starting team if his form justifies it.

Sanchez is yet to play 90 minutes in the league this season and, asked if the former Barcelona player was central to his plans, Wenger said: “Not more than any other. There is no real hierarchy.

“I used the team at Chelsea who could be strong on the counter-attack and fight very hard.

“I have six or seven strikers but if I go in one game with three strikers, the three who have not played will play in mid-week no matter what game that is.

“But that is nothing calculated. There is no disguised attitude on my side.

“He came back not really fit and then he got injured.

“If you add the injury plus the rest time it was a bit long, but on Wednesday (against Doncaster) I left him on the pitch for 90 minutes because I wanted him to have a real go.”

Lagging behind the early Premier League pace-setters after a spluttering spell, Arsenal already have no margin for error if they are to mount a title challenge.

One of keys to an Arsenal revival will be France striker Alexandre Lacazette finding form after a tepid start following his pre-season move from Lyon.

“He connects well with the other players. He still needs to adapt to the physical aspects of the Premier League and that will take maybe a little bit of time,” Wenger said.

Meanwhile, Wenger says Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s Arsenal exit was not as painful as Kieran Gibbs’ departure to West Brom.

Gibbs left for the Hawthorns in a £7m deal on the penultimate day of the transfer window, with Oxlade-Chamberlain following him out the door when he made a Deadline Day move to Liverpool for £35m.

Full-back Gibbs came through the ranks at Arsenal before breaking into the first team at 18 and going on to represent the club 230 times in all competitions.

Despite Oxlade-Chamberlain featuring more than Gibbs under Wenger last season, Wenger admitted losing Gibbs hurt him more.

“Ideally you want stability and you want players who carry the values for the generations,” Wenger said ahead of Gibbs’ return to the Emirates with Tony Pulis’ West Brom tonight. — AFP