Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that it was "not easy" to tell Alexis Sanchez that he will not be involved in Saturday's North London derby.

The Chile international has been ruled out of the contest as he continues to recover from a hamstring strain.

"It's not easy to tell him he's not playing," Wenger told reporters in this morning's press conference. "He wants to play, he's so keen, but we have enough offensive power. We don't need to worry about being short on that front."

Sanchez also missed last weekend's 5-0 victory over Aston Villa.