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Sanchez hints at Chile appearances despite 'terrible' ankle injury

Reuters / Andrew Boyers Livepic

To the surprise of absolutely nobody, Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez appears set to participate in a pair of pivotal World Cup qualifiers with Chile even with an ankle injury that Arsene Wenger characterised as "terrible."

This isn't Sanchez's first dance with disaster, after the former Udinese and Barcelona man played for the twice-defending Copa America winner in November amid a hamstring concern.

Related - Wenger: Sanchez's ankle injury 'doesn't look good'

Wenger called that a "suicidal decision" and with Sanchez now carrying an ankle injury stemming from a studs-up challenge from West Brom's James McClean during Saturday's drab 3-1 defeat at the Hawthorns, the tireless worker appears set to do it again.

Sanchez took to Instagram on Monday, posting a pic of him slaloming Uruguayan defenders Seb Coates and Maxi Pereira with the caption "The only failure is not to try."

El único fracaso Es No intentarlo... ⚽️🇨🇱

A post shared by Alexis Sanchez (@alexis_officia1) on

No stranger to inspirational sentiments, it's easy to assume the El Nino of Maravilla is aiming to join his La Roja mates in South America for a pair of upcoming 2018 qualifiers.

Sitting fourth in CONMEBOL standings in the final automatic qualification spot, just a point clear of Argentina, Chile visits La Albiceleste at the Antonio V. Liberti Stadium in Buenos Aires on Thursday before welcoming Venezuela five days later at the Estadio Monumental David Arellano.

Arsenal next plays Manchester City on April 2 in a pivotal clash for the Gunners' feint top-four hopes.

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