Arsene Wenger insists Alexis is not a “special case” and, like every player in the squad, he will be rested when his fatigue level suggests he needs a break.
The Chile international has indicated his desire to play in every match, even after international duty in South America, but Wenger says sometimes this is not possible.
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“For me, he is not a special case. He’s a player like everybody else,” Wenger said. “When I decide to take him off, I take him off. There is no special case. He has his own character but he is not treated differently from anybody else.
“We test the fatigue level of everybody, for example I tested Alexis because he played two games in South America. Sometimes I rest him straight away after [the internationals].
“I played him the other day against Swansea so I thought I would take him off when it is possible. We consider every case individually.
"Also, some positions are more demanding,” added the boss. “Up front you provoke, at the back you respond. Sometimes you can choose to go or not to go at the back. Up front if you don't move you create nothing. So there are positions that are more demanding on the energy front.”
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