On the face of it, Arsene Wenger was in full denial mode that the decision to start the Chile international the Europa League and Carabao Cup but initially to sit him out of the last two Premier League matches was in no form a punishment for the shenanigans of the summer.
But, given it was less than 11 hours since he was last in front of the microphones after the Doncaster game, did a sleep-deprived Wenger let slip a previously unspoken truth when he was quizzed in his early morning London Colney extremely-pre-match press conference ahead of Monday night’s game against West Brom?
Certainly his inquisitors suspected an agenda.
“Is it a sign Sanchez is being distracted?” Wenger was asked. “Was the manager trying to make a point?”
“No, not at all,” the Arsenal manager protested.
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“I think that is coming into very quick conclusions. There is no disguised attitude on my side.”
Then he offered more of an insight into the mysterious injuries and illness that delayed Sanchez’s return to action at the start of the season.
“I am just trying to give him competition and to get him back to his best, because I gave him a long holiday and after that long holiday this year he had a real rest,” Wenger explained.
The next bit seems key, though. “He came back not really fit, it took us time to get him back and then he got injured,” he continued. It seemed there was a strong hint of disappointment.
If that is indeed the case, the rehabilitation back into fitness and favour seems to be complete, however.
“I just try to get him back to full fitness and for me the Europa League and the League Cup last night is important as well,” Wenger said.
“If you add the injury plus the rest time it was a bit long, but last night you could see that he is coming back sharp now and I left him on the pitch as well for 90 minutes because I wanted him to have a real go.”
Expect to see Sanchez to make his first Premier League start since the debacle of Liverpool.