Arsene Wenger blames himself for Alexis Sanchez’s poor start to the season

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted he brought Alexis Sanchez back into first-team action too soon.

The Chilean returned to first-team duties in the opening weekend defeat to West Ham, barely a month after playing in his country's Copa America final victory, and Wenger admitted: "I think I played him very early before he was completely fit," the manager admitted, likening Sanchez's struggles to those endured by the likes of Per Mertesacker and Mesut Özil after the 2014 World Cup. "Every player who has won a big trophy with the national team takes him some while again to settle and to get back to his best," Wenger added. Sanchez top-scored for Arsenal last season, but is yet to find the net so far this campaign.