SANCHEZ RETURN CAN BOOST OUR TOP 4 HOPE - WENGER

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger is hopeful the return of Alexis Sanchez can boost his side's battle to get back into the Premier League's top four when they take on Leicester on Tuesday.

The Gunners lost 2-1 to rivals Tottenham at White Hart Lane on Saturday, with a second-half double from Harry Kane turning the match around after Mesut Ozil's early opener.

Arsenal are now down in sixth place, but could potentially move up to as high as third should they see off bottom-placed Leicester and other results go their way.

Alexis, 26, has scored 18 goals this season, but was not risked against Spurs because of a hamstring strain.

Wenger, though, told a news conference he is expecting his 32 million-pound signing from Barcelona to be fit to add to his options on Tuesday.

"Alexis Sanchez will be back in the group and we don't have injuries from Saturday. Everybody else looked fine yesterday," said Wenger.

"He is our best goalscorer and one of our hardest-working players in the team. Physically I think we suffered a little bit on some occasions on Saturday and it is good to have him back."

Wenger also confirmed Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is still out with a groin problem, while Jack Wilshere is set to join full training following his recovery from ankle surgery.

"[Wilshere's] back in full training this week. I don't know exactly [how long until he returns], we have to monitor him on a daily basis and see how he develops," he said. "Oxlade-Chamberlain is about two weeks [away from returning]."

Sanchez is set to feature tomorrow against Leicester City

The Frenchman is confident Arsenal can get the poor display at Tottenham out of their system, having gone into the match on the back of five straight victories.

"We just have to focus on our game," Wenger said. "We are responsible for what we produce on the pitch and we have to continue to move forward and deal with all the rest.

"The rest is not to influence us. What is important is that our ambition and the way we want to play has to be the strongest influence. We had a very strong run just before Saturday. We just want to continue that and respond very strongly to the disappointment."

Wenger added: "We have a very important period in front of us, with the Champions League, the Premier League and the FA Cup. It is important that the team responds very well and very quickly.

"We are going into a period where we play many games and where all our squad will be highly important. [It is important that] every player is focused, determined and ambitious."

Leicester manager Nigel Pearson will lead his team at the Emirates Stadium, with the club having released a statement to deny reports he had been dismissed on Sunday evening.

And despite the Foxes sitting bottom of the Premier League table, Wenger is not taking them lightly.

He said: "They are a team who fights to survive in the Premier League, that means it demands a complete focus from us."

Akin' Odunsi

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