Alexis Sanchez at the double as Arsenal see off Bournemouth

Gunners will be hoping that isn’t the case this time around.

Wilshere will not be involved on Sunday when 10th-placed Bournemouth travel to play Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.

The Swiss global has consistently been overlooked in midfield following his big money arrival this summer but completed the entire 90 minutes against Bournemouth to get the seal of approval from his manager.

The home fans were doubly aggrieved in the 25th when Jones awarded the visitors a penalty as Nacho Monreal and Wilson went shoulder to shoulder in the Arsenal box.

This could have been his last chance to really stake a claim in the Arsenal side, and a substantial amount of time out could have dire consequences for his future at the club.

The win took Chelsea back above Liverpool and Manchester City, who welcome Conte’s side to the Etihad Stadium next weekend, but the Italian said it was far too early to think about the title. Alexis Sanchez scored a brace and Walcott added another one for a successful afternoon and well-deserved three points.

Theo Walcott got the decisive second goal – his ninth of the season – and it was a nice way for him to celebrate the birth of his second son, Arlo, while Sanchez, who had put Arsenal in front early on, added the gloss during stoppage time with a tap-in from the substitute Olivier Giroud’s cross on the counterattack.

Vision, technique and a real touch of class were on show as Sanchez effortlessly curled the ball into the path of Giroud during one of Arsenal’s many counter attacks.

It was during that fortnight off from domestic action that most Arsenal supporters felt their season might be starting to fall apart with Alexis picking up a hamstring injury while away with Chile.

Wenger’s side still struggled to break Bournemouth down decisively despite numerous balls down the flanks and runs to the byline, demonstrating that they still lack either a combination of the ideas, final ball and presence from the centre-forward.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger: “We got better during the game but Bournemouth played well”.

Wenger left right-back Carl Jenkinson out of the squad completely after he started Arsenal’s previous two games, even though the Gunners boss said he knew there was a risk Debuchy would suffer another setback.

Debuchy was a surprise starter at right-back with the Frenchman making his first Premier League start in over 12 months having recently overcome a calf injury which has hampered him this season. Monreal received it and guided a square ball towards the back post, which the England global was able to nod home from close-range. Their November form may not have been ideal, but it was far from terminal either. Their traditional sticky patch is out of the way – the Premier League can now fear what this Arsenal team still have to offer.