Injuries: Wenger at fault

From Back Page problem. And the manager’s handling of his star man has been slammed by fitness expert and former Wales assistant Raymond Verheijen.

Verheijen said: “When you talk about training there are some principles and there is also logical thinking and common sense.

“Based on that, it was quite obvious they were playing Russian roulette with Sanchez and quite a few other players during the last 10 years.

“It is down to him (Wenger) in the end because he is responsible, but you have to look at the context.

“There is some kind of snowball effect and he is in some kind of vicious circle because for the 10th season in a row Arsene Wenger is in the middle of a massive injury crisis.

“I think the mistake made with Sanchez has more to do with the fact he is already playing with a relatively weak team.

“And it has nothing to do with the fact that he cannot predict injuries because deep inside he knows he should not have done it.”

Wenger will learn the full extent of the injuries to Sanchez and Cazorla – who suffered a kick to his left knee – over the next 24 hours, but their chances of recovering inside 10 days are rated as slim.

There was better news about Laurent Koscielny, who lasted 11 minutes at Norwich before suffering a hip problem. The centreback hopes to be fit to face Sunderland on Saturday.

Theo Walcott could also return after a calf problem.

That would still leave Kieran Gibbs, Jack Wilshere, Danny Welbeck, Francis Coquelin, Mikel Arteta and Tomas Rosicky, plus Sanchez and Cazorla, in the treatment room.