Alexis won’t be in our line-up for the Premier League kick-off - and he probably won’t play in our second game either.

The Chilean star returned to training ahead of the Community Shield but his return to match fitness has been hampered by a knock he picked up just before our win over Chelsea.

“He had a little abdominal strain that he caught on Sunday morning in training, before he came to Wembley,” explained Arsene Wenger. “He had a scan two days ago and he’s out for a while - we don’t know if it is two weeks or one more week, but he will not be available. We think he will not play at Stoke.

“For us Alexis Sanchez is a loss, of course,” the boss added. “But we have all the other players prepared in pre-season and they are all ready. It can happen in pre-season and anyway, I don’t think I would have included him on Friday night. I don’t think I would have started him.

“He is focused. Of course when you have treatment on a medical bench, it’s not easy.”

