Wenger thankful Sanchez is not ‘a Costa problem’

Matt Stead

Arsene Wenger has spoken of his relief that Alexis Sanchez is not posing Arsenal the same problems that Diego Costa is at Chelsea.

Sanchez was visibly frustrated at being substituted in the second half of the Gunners’ 4-0 victory over Swansea on Saturday, the Chilean wishing to play the full match.

It was a direct juxtaposition with the status of Costa, who did not feature for Chelsea at the weekend after a blazing row with manager Antonio Conte.

After the win over Swansea, Wenger drew comparisons between the two incidents.

“I’d rather have someone who always wants to be involved than someone who doesn’t want to play,” he said.

“I have enough problems —I don’t need a Costa problem on top of that.

“Alexis is a guy who wants to fight everywhere, sometimes where he shouldn’t. But that is a part of his game. All my players want to play for every minute but for me this is not a story.”