Arsene Wenger: playing Sanchez at Norwich was the right decision

Norwich City held Arsenal to a 1-1 draw on Sunday in a game which saw both Alexis Sanchez and Laurent Koscielny forced off with injury.

Compounding Arsenal’s injury problems, Wenger revealed that midfielder Santi Cazorla had also sustained a leg injury during the game.

“It was a naive goal maybe”, Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said.

“He [Sanchez] says it is a kick on his hamstring”, said Wenger (as quoted by the club’s official website).

Our friends at All Arsenal have produced this in depth match report from Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Norwich, including highlights and goals from the game.

The Wales global had been sidelined with a hamstring injury in recent weeks but made his comeback during as a substitute in the second half of last Tuesday’s 3-0 Champions League win over Dinamo Zagreb. “The players are there to play football not to be rested when the press decided they need to be rested”.

“We don’t need to worry about [the injuries to Sanchez and Koscielny]. There was more of an edge to him and his game today, that is what he is able to do”.

Although his side were relatively quiet throughout the first half, Robbie Brady’s quality was on show throughout the game.

The Gunners however suffered a setback in the 13th minute when reliable centre-back Koscielny suffered a hip injury and had to be replaced by Gabriel Paulista.

“Now we can all say the same thing”.

“I personally wouldn’t have liked that when I was a player but you take it on the chin and see the bigger picture because you want to be out there and play for the whole season”.

Grabban had been subject to a number of rejected bids from former side Bournemouth but Neil took a firm line and he became a bit-part player as Cameron Jerome was installed as the Canaries’ first-choice frontman.

It was a meeting between sides with far different ambitions at opposite ends of the table, but Arsene Wenger will see it as two points dropped as it leaves his Gunners side fourth in the Premier League. “We looked the team more likely to win it”.

“When there are alarming signs, we want to make the right decision at the right moment but as long as the guys are confident, they score goals – it is always hard to rest them”.