LONDON -- Arsene Wenger has no plans to move Alexis Sanchez back to the wing despite the return of Olivier Giroud, but acknowledged that may limit opportunities for the French striker since the Arsenal boss doesn't want to play with two up front.
Sanchez has given Arsenal's attack a big spark after being used as a centre-forward this season while Giroud was sidelined, with his pace and relentless energy opening up spaces for teammates and causing constant problems for defenders.
Giroud is now available again after recovering from a toe injury, but Wenger said he doesn't envision redeploying Sanchez as a winger again.
"I see him there [up front], yes. Because he's the kind of guy who is provocative ... and he can always create something" Wenger said. "He has as well a good mixture between scoring and giving the final ball."
The Chile forward has six goals and five assists in all competitions so far, and has played a big part in helping Theo Walcott and Mesut Ozil go on scoring runs as well.
Walcott has eight goals for the campaign, with Ozil netting six already.
So while Giroud was Arsenal's leading scorer last season with 24 goals in all competitions, the France international could struggle to regain his starting space. Giroud offers a much more physical presence in the box and is a more traditional target-man, but lacks the pace and dribbling ability of Sanchez.
Wenger insisted the two can still coexist on the pitch, but that would involve moving Sanchez back to the wing. Because Wenger said playing with two strikers won't work with Mesut Ozil as the No. 10.
"They can play together [but] I have to move Alexis out," Wenger said. "I have always that problem with Ozil being behind the striker. He cannot move much deeper, because [when you are] much deeper you need to work defensively.
#ElNinoMaravilla pic.twitter.com/93u6qp92Nu
- Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) October 28, 2016
"So one [of Giroud and Sanchez] will have to move wide. And if you move one of them wide, it can only be Alexis."
Wenger did point out that Sanchez still has areas to improve, saying he should focus more on his movement off the ball at times.
"In my taste he still comes too much to the ball.
"Because Alexis Sanchez likes to have the ball. We have enough playmakers in our team and you would want him to ... get more off-the-ball runs.
"But that's why when we have Walcott, he balances well. Because when [Sanchez] comes, Walcott goes with his runs. So they are a good mixture, a good working unit."
It's been clear, however, that Giroud's qualities can still be crucial at times as Arsenal have struggled to break down teams that play defensively when they've lacked a clear target in the box.
And while Wenger acknowledged he may have to make some tough choices when deciding which striker to pick, he said that problem "is not a bad one."
"It's a good option to have. But of course to leave quality players out is always tough," he said. "But the toughest thing is to not have quality players."