Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has expressed his concern over fitness of star duo Aaron Ramsey and Alexis Sanchez after the Gunners’ 2-0 victory over Bayern Munich in the Champions League clash on Tuesday.
The Welsh international was replaced just minutes after the start of the second half after he complained over a hamstring injury. He was replaced by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while the Chilean international was taken off the field in the final quarter of the match.
Late goals from substitute Olivier Giroud and Mesut Ozil helped the north London club seal a 2-0 victory over the Bundesliga winners. Despite the victory, Wenger is concerned with the fitness of Ramsey and Sanchez.
“He [Ramsey] is alright but very down because he told me that his hamstring is quite a tough one. He is out,” Wenger told the club’s official website.
“Alexis, you could see he was a bit jaded physically tonight and he still pushes himself so much but he finished exhausted. The two games with Chile, plus travelling, plus Watford, plus tonight, it is too much.”
Wenger had started David Ospina in the first two matches against Dinamo Zagreb and Olympiacos. However, Arsenal boss decided to start summer signing Petr Cech ahead of the South American stopper.
The former Chelsea man made several crucial saves in order to keep the north London club’s dream of progressing to the next stage of the Europe’s top club competition alive. Wenger was in full praise of Cech for his performance against Bayern.
When asked if he regrets not starting Cech in first two matches of the Champions League, Wenger said: ” I expected this question in the press conference. I have already spoken about that.
“He (Cech) was important. I think he kept us in the game and you can say the same for Neuer. We had two top, top, top world-class keepers on the pitch today and that of course was vital on both sides.”
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