Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has expressed fears over the fitness of star striker Alexis Sanchez.
Sanchez, the Chile forward, is believed to have suffered a calf strain while in training with his country.
But Chile coach Juan Antonio Pizzi wants Sanchez to face Uruguay on Wednesday at the national stadium in Santiago in a crucial FIFA 2018 World Cup qualifier, which has angered Wenger.
"I got a text last night [to say] that he has a hamstring injury. The team from Chile has travelled without him and they kept him to try and get him fit to play Uruguay for the second game on Tuesday night," Wenger told beinsports.
"We have to get access for our medical staff to the MRI scan to see what grade it is, how bad it is and make absolutely sure they don't make any suicidal decision that could harm his future for two or three months.
"That is absolutely important. It's a grey area between the national team and the club team and of course they look at their own results which I can understand but we have to preserve the health of Alexis Sanchez.
"He always wants to play and that's where it is a more sensitive case because he's always ready to play even when injured."
Sanchez, 27, has been a crucial figure in Arsenal's strong start to the Premier League season, scoring six goals and contributing three assists in ten league games so far.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Sportswriter at Newsweek.
To read how Newsweek uses AI as a newsroom tool, Click here.
