Sanchez to miss season opener

Alexis Sanchez will miss Arsenal's first Premier League game of the season after being given an extended break following his exertions with Chile at the Copa America. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said Sanchez would return to the club at the start of August but would then need time to regain match fitness. Sanchez will miss the Community Shield against league champions Chelsea at Wembley on August 2 as well as the league opener against West Ham United the following week after a gruelling Copa America campaign. The athletic forward scored the winning penalty for his country in the Copa final against Argentina on July 4 in his 58th game of last season.