Sanchez, Wilshere boost for Arsenal

Arsenal’s Premier League campaign has been boosted with the latest injury bulletin on Alexis Sanchez and Jack Wilshere.

The Gunners host struggling Newcastle on January 2 having climbed to the summit of the Premier League after goals by Gabriel and Mesut Ozil helped the team to a 2-0 win over Bournemouth on Monday.

Sanchez’s return would be a huge lift for their title push with the Chilean forward sidelined by a hamstring problem suffered in the 1-1 draw at Norwich on November 9.

Arsene Wenger said on Wednesday the showdown with the Magpies was too early for Sanchez but the FA Cup third-round match with Sunderland on January 9 was “possible”.

The ongoing recovery of Wilshere will go down well at England’s HQ as well as the Emirates. Wenger had feared his midfielder would be out for the rest of the season having fractured a fibula in pre-season.

But the latest medical update is a more positive one and Wenger said: “He could make it back for February or even earlier. He will be available again. Considering England play the Euros on June 10, that is a long way.”