LONDON -- Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez will miss the Premier League game at Liverpool on Wednesday as he is not yet ready to return from a hamstring injury, Arsene Wenger said on Friday.
Sanchez, 27, was back in training this week, but Wenger had already ruled him out Saturday's FA Cup game against Sunderland.
The Arsenal manager said at his prematch news conference that the Chile forward is "not far" from a return but will not be fit for next week's game at Anfield either.
"Liverpool will come too soon as well," Wenger said. "Maybe for Stoke [next Saturday]."
Sanchez has not played since injuring his hamstring against Norwich in November, but Arsenal have so far managed to overcome the absence of their main attacking threat to sit two points clear at the top of the Premier League table.
Arsenal will have captain Mikel Arteta back for the Sunderland game, while Wenger said forward Danny Welbeck is expected to be back from a long-term injury in three weeks.
Welbeck has yet to play this season but would add to Wenger's attacking options up front or on the wing.
Czech Republic midfielder Tomas Rosicky is also nearing a comeback, although Wenger did not give a date for his return.
While Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin and Jack Wilshere are all still sidelined, it seems Wenger's injury concerns are finally easing a bit.
"Hopefully we get our players back," he said.