Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez in the "red zone", risks burnout: Arsene Wenger

Alexis Sanchez

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger revealed in a press conference that star striker Alexis Sanchez was now in the infamous “red zone”. It is a term that has been used in the past to describe players who are close to burnout due to fatigue.

The Chilean international has played more than 25 games already this season in all competitions for both club and country. And the Gunners boss is worried about losing his summer signing to injury if he is played too much.

Sanchez has great recovery potential: Wenger

Commenting on Alexis Sanchez’s current status, Wenger said: “He is in the red zone.

“You can see that when he plays, but he can dig deep. I think he played his 27th game since the start of the season on Wednesday, if you consider the international games and the travelling on top of that.

“Unfortunately, you never know how far you can push. We are not scientific enough to predict that completely, but he has great recovery potential. He recovers very quickly and he is always very sharp and ready to play,” he added.

Sanchez is known to be a very committed player even in training sessions and is the epitome of fitness having averaged 47 games per season in three years at Barcelona.

“He has a huge desire, no complex and a fighting attitude. Even when he misses something, it doesn’t affect him.

“I believe as well he is very mobile, very determined and he has the sense to be in the right place in the box,” Wenger concluded.

Arsenal play Stoke City at the Britannia on Saturday.