Alexis Sanchez set to be given winter break by Arsene Wenger

Chile forward has made more Gunners appearances than any other player this season, while jetting to and from South American for World Cup qualifiers

ALEXIS SANCHEZ is set to be handed a winter break by Arsenal.

Arsene Wenger is concerned about the Chile star’s workload and does not want Sanchez to suffer from burnout ahead of the season’s run-in, according to the Mail.

The 27-year-old’s 16 Gunners appearances is more than any other player so far this season, with the forward making another three starts in two separate stints away with Chile.

That figure will be notched up one more after he faces Paris Saint-Germain on Wednesday, when a victory at the Emirates would come as a major boost to Wenger.

It would not only see the club qualify for the Champions League knockout stages for the 17th consecutive season but also allow Wenger the opportunity to rest some of his key men – including Sanchez – for their final group game at Basel.

The Gunners boss is keen to get as much game time as he can from Sanchez in the lead up to Christmas, with Prem clashes against Everton, Manchester City and Stoke all coming in the space of eight days.

But with no game between the Potters game on December 18 and West Brom’s visit on Boxing Day, Sanchez will be able to get his feet up over the festive period.

If Sanchez is given the Baggies encounter off, he could squeeze in a two-week break.

And depending on the FA Cup third-round draw, the weekend of January 7 and 8 could be another option for Wenger to hand Sanchez a rest.

The strategy could well appeal to the player, who Wenger is trying to tie down to a long-term deal.

Sanchez picked up a calf injury on Chile duty which caused him to miss a clash with Colombia, before Wenger declared it a “suicidal decision” for his player to start just a few days later against Uruguay.