Why Arsene Wenger Should Gamble by Playing Alexis Sanchez Against Chelsea

After managing to survive a Christmas period without a number of key stars, the cavalry is finally coming to rescue Arsenal.

Ahead of Sunday's game against Chelsea, Alexis Sanchez stepped up his return by taking a full part in training. Now, the decision rests with manager Arsene Wenger as to whether to throw the Chilean back into the fray. With the Gunners needing all three points against their London rivals after two consecutive draws, the smart decision might be to gamble 

After all, it’s not possible to keep Alexis wrapped in cotton wool forever. You get the impression Wenger has been particularly careful with the timing of the 27-year-old's latest comeback after he suffered a setback just before Christmas.

There was talk Alexis could be involved against Stoke City in Arsenal's last game, but instead he remained at home with Mesut Ozil. Surely that decision was partly made with the Chelsea fixture in mind.

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Speaking to the team's official site, Wenger explained his reluctance to use Alexis too soon:

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I am cautious with him because we cannot afford a setback with him. A setback would mean a very long period out so we don’t want to take this gamble. The signs he has shown in training this week are positive.

The doubt is that he has been out for a long time and the risk of a setback if you try to go too early. To be clear on all the tests is one thing, after he is clear on training is another things, and after the intensity of a big game you can never repeat in a training session. You can make sure after a certain amount of time that the risk is minimal.

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Wenger knows this is a critical period in the club’s season. A setback for Alexis could mean he misses games against the likes of Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Barcelona. That’s an unpalatable thought for the veteran coach.

However, Arsenal need Alexis against Chelsea. The Gunners have failed to score in each of their last five outings against the Blues. His penetrative dribbling and powerful shooting could be invaluable.

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It’s not as if his replacement, Theo Walcott, has been faring particularly well. The England winger has been asked to fill the void on the left flank, and although he whipped home an excellent strike against Manchester City in December, that was his only goal in his last 13 appearances in all competitions. It’s not as if he’s been compensating creatively, either—he has just one assist across the same period.

This is a game Arsenal ought to be winning. Chelsea might be champions, but they’re also enduring a diabolical season. Despite the intense rivalry between these two teams, Arsenal should be winning a home game against a team that is 14th in the Premier League.

At his pre-match briefing, Chelsea boss Guus Hiddink announced without hesitation that Eden Hazard would be fit to face Arsenal, reported by MailOnline. He knows the value that kind of game-breaking player can have in a match like this. Arsenal must follow suit—their chances of winning are significantly greater with their No. 17 in the XI.

It’s time to unleash Alexis once again.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.