Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has criticised reports claiming forward Alexis Sanchez was forced to play the Premier League match against Manchester United at the weekend.
Sanchez has been in impressive form so far this season, claiming six league goals and three assists, but there have been recent reports of fatigue setting in on the Chile international. He reportedly suffered a minorinjury on international duty recently but recovered in time to play the game at Old Trafford.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal's Champions League tie with PSG, Wenger confirmed he takes all the necessary precautions with injury before naming a player in his starting lineup.
"If they declare him capable to play and he declares himself capable to play, I've never forced any player in my whole life to play. I've never demanded anyone to be injected to play," Wenger toldArsenal's official website.
"If a player says he's 100 per cent, after I make my decision, do I play him or not? The suggestions that we pushed him to play when he's not fit are completely wrong."
Wenger confirmed he would opt to give his players a break if he could, but maintained that Sanchez had a reasonably fair workload during his time with Chile.
"If I have a possibility, I would like to give a winter break to everybody. We just had the luxury to do it with Ozil, because Germany didn't pick him," Wenger continued.
"But Chile played qualifiers for the World Cup and in fact, [Alexis] didn't play in the first game, so he had a little break when they played in Colombia and he didn't play. He was not overloaded with games."
Meanwhile, PSG defender Serge Aurier has been ruled out of the clash with the Gunners after being stopped on entry into England by officials.Aurier was convicted of assaulting a police officer back in September for an altercation that took place in May earlier this year.
BREAKING: PSG say British Authorities have refused defender Serge Aurier permission to travel with squad for Champions League game v Arsenal