Arsene Wenger: 'Alexis Sanchez to miss first game of new season'

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has revealed that he expects playmaker Alexis Sanchez to miss the first game of the new Premier League season.

Sanchez was part of the Chile squad that recently clinched the Copa America on home soil, and Wenger has insisted that his playmaker will miss the start of the coming campaign as he is given time off to recover from competing in the tournament.

"Alexis will be back with us on 3 August and usually it takes three weeks to be competitive," said Wenger, according to BBC Sport.

"With Alexis it could be a bit less. He will miss certainly the first game."

Sanchez has scored 16 goals in 35 appearances for the Gunners.