Wenger announcement soon; Cahill saves Chelsea
Leicester City’s resurgence continues with a 3-2 victory at West Ham
important than my future.”
Arsenal also lost goalkeeper Petr Cech to a muscular problem and Wenger revealed talisman Sanchez’s ankle was in “an absolutely terrible state,” raising fears of ligament damage.
Chelsea were missing Eden Hazard at Stoke’s Bet365 Stadium due to what manager Antonio Conte termed a “little problem” affecting his calf.
They took the lead in the 13th minute when Willian’s free-kick from wide on the left caught out Stoke goalkeeper Lee Grant at his near post.
Jonathan Walters levelled with a 38thminute penalty awarded for a push on him by Cahill, but the England defender atoned to smash in a late winner from Cesc Fabregas’s free-kick.
Stoke’s Phil Bardsley was sent off in stoppage time for a second bookable offense.
“I am pleased because to play Stoke at this point of the season, you have to be prepared mentally and physically,” said Conte.
“We have a 10-point gap, 13 at the moment, but I like to think our opponents will win tomorrow. We have to look at ourselves.”
Chelsea provisionally moved 13 points clear of Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester.
Second-place Tottenham host Southampton, while City, level on points with Spurs, entertain Liverpool, who trail Pep Guardiola’s side by a point.
A day after being drawn against Atletico Madrid in the Champions League quarterfinals, Leicester won 3-2 at West Ham to record a fourth straight win since Craig Shakespeare succeeded Claudio Ranieri as manager.
Leicester led 2-0 inside seven minutes, Riyad Mahrez’s cross from the right curling straight in before Robert Huth headed in a cross from Marc Albrighton.
Manuel Lanzini’s 20th-minute free- kick reduced the arrears before Jamie Vardy slammed in Leicester’s third.
Despite Andre Ayew reducing the arrears, the visitors held on to pull six points clear of the bottom three.
“We showed all the attributes to win a game. We started really well and got the goals, but it was backs to the wall at the end,” Shakespeare told the BBC.
“We have important league games before the Champions League game with Atletico Madrid. We needed something from today, heading into the international break. We can recharge the batteries now.”
Everton drew level on points with fifthplace Arsenal, albeit having played two more games, after Romelu Lukaku scored his 20th and 21st goals of the campaign in a 4-0 home win over Hull City.