Liverpool were never in for Alexis Sanchez: Wenger

The Chile international joined Arsenal in July after the Gunners reportedly beat Sunday’s opponents Liverpool to his signature.

Alexis has already scored 14 goals this season, and Wenger believes the forward is benefitting from regular game time, having often being used as a substitute by the Catalan club.

“I met his agent in Brazil a few times,” the manager explained. “We could talk about the transfer and in Europe we talked with Barcelona once we got his decision that he wanted to join us, and it happened.

“He came out from a period where he maybe didn’t have the number of games he wanted at Barcelona. I just tried, like every manager, to convince the player that you can help him to develop the quality of his game, that the way we play football would suit him and that’s why I think he has chosen us in the end.

“As well, we have continuity. All the player wants to do is play in the Champions League - it is quite simple. We have quite a good continuity on that front.

“We were interested in Suarez last year. He scored 40 goals for Liverpool and that’s part of the competition. At the end of the day, every great player has a choice to go where he wants today.

“Alexis has chosen us - we are very happy for that and I’m not sure that Liverpool was in. I don’t know why he has chosen us and not anybody else, but we are very happy that he has done that."