Arsenal Duo Won’t Be Risked In Champions League Clash With “Not A Lot At Stake” Says Arsene Wenger

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger reveals key duo will miss Champions League clash against Galatasaray…

Arsene Wenger has revealed that Alexis Sanchez and Laurent Koscielny will miss the trip to Turkey on Tuesday for Arsenal’s Champions League clash, according to Arsenal’s official website.

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The Gunners have already secured their place in the final 16 of the Champions League, although the top spot in Group D is still available.

Borussia Dortmund currently have a tight grip on first place, but if they were to lose to Belgian side RSC Anderlecht on Tuesday then Wenger’s men would still be able to wrestle the lead away from them.

The North London side are more than capable of dispatching Turkish side Galatasaray, and will be hoping to replicate the performance from their 4-1 win in the home leg.

Wenger doesn’t believe that qualifying top of the group is likely however, and believes Koscielny and Sanchez should not be risked in a game where “there’s not a lot at stake”.

“A few players [will not travel] because there’s not a lot at stake and we have given a lot in the last two weeks,” the manager said.

“We have to recover a little bit.

“Alexis will not travel and I don’t think I can play, for example, Koscielny. He didn’t play on Saturday and I don’t see why I should risk him for a game where’s there’s not a lot at stake.

“First place hypothetically, but there’s maybe a 10 per cent chance.”

Fans will loathe to hear him say this, with history looking likely to repeat itself for the Gunners.

In the last two seasons Arsenal have missed out on top spot in their group when Wenger felt there was “not a lot at stake”, while simply winning their final matches would have seen them top the group and avoid Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich both years.

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