Arsene Wenger has confirmed that Alexis Sanchez will miss both Saturday’s FA Cup 3rd round match with Sunderland and the trip to Anfield on Wednesday.

The Chilean international, who is nursing a hamstring injury picked up against Norwich in November, should be fit to return against Stoke City in eight days time.

“Sanchez is a bit short to be involved in the squad, but he’s not far,” Wenger told his Friday press conference.

Mikel Arteta, who played 45 minutes for the under-21s earlier in the week, will return to the first team action with the boss hoping the Spaniard will be a ‘consistent presence’ in his squad for the rest of the season.

Yesterday, Wenger stressed that his squad would be largely the same as that which overcame Newcastle last weekend.

“Ozil, I don’t know [if he’ll be involved]. Walcott is not overloaded with games.”

There was also another update on the long-term absentees, with Danny Welbeck set to be back in three weeks and Tomas Rosicky ‘doing well.’