Late fitness tests planned for Koscielny, Sanchez ahead of Watford trip

Last-minute decisions will be made on the fitness of Laurent Koscielny and Alexis Sanchez ahead of Arsenal's away match at Watford on Saturday, manager Arsene Wenger confirmed.

Koscielny's potential return to action from a hamstring strain is a welcome boost for the Gunners. Wenger's earlier predictions had the Frenchman still a week away from full fitness.

While the defender still faces a "definite test" to see if he's ready for first-team action again, he's in line to battle it out with the central defensive pairing of Gabriel Paulista and Per Mertesacker, who recorded a clean sheet in the 3-0 defeat of Manchester United before the international break.

Sanchez scored two goals in that win before being substituted in the 81st minute with a hip problem. Despite the issue with his rotator muscle, he played both of Chile's recent World Cup qualifying wins and Wenger is nervously awaiting his return.

"He played in the last two games and we have to see how he comes back," Wenger told the club website. "But it is always a tricky situation. Chile are trying to qualify for the World Cup and he is an important player for them - they will use him if they can. He is a guy that always wants to play so I knew that was always going to be a tricky situation."

Sanchez was last on the pitch on Tuesday, when he played to full 90 minutes, scored two, and assisted one in his country's entertaining 4-3 win in Peru.

The win over United lifted the North London outfit into second in the Premier League table and has had the club's fans dreaming of domestic honours. Wenger's side will look to continue to push league-leader Manchester City with a win at Watford on Saturday.