Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger assesses club's injury concerns

As Arsenal's 2015-16 Premier League season-opener against West Ham at the Emirates approaches, manager Arsene Wenger updated the injury status Alexis Sanchez, Danny Welbeck, and Tomas Rosicky.

"We have Welbeck on a progressive recovery and Rosicky on a progressive recovery," Wenger said in conversation with the club's official website. "He is not too far away, but he is not ready for Sunday."

Sanchez, Arsenal's star signing of last summer's transfer window, was given an extended break by the club following his part in Chile's first Copa America win. He has since returned to training, but has yet to reach match fitness.

"Alexis is back in training but I don’t think he will be involved on Sunday, it is a bit early maybe," Wenger said. "We have to decide that at the end of the week, but I don’t think he will be involved."

Despite the extended layoff for his star player, Wenger - celebrating his 20th campaign at Arsenal's helm - notes his time off wasn't exactly spent eating pies and drinking room temperature lagers with his mates.

"Alex without running around is not Alex, you know. You can’t imagine him lying on the beach somewhere and not moving. He came back in good fitness shape so that is quite positive, but I am not surprised by that because I can’t imagine him lying around for four weeks and doing nothing. That wouldn’t be him."

Without Sanchez on Sunday, the Gunners will likely start a midfield of Francis Coquelin behind Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil, with Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on the wings supporting lone striker Olivier Giroud.