Arsene Wenger has assured Arsenal fans that Alexis Sanchez is fine despite the Chilean forward being pictured with an ice pack on his foot.

Sanchez was the subject of an extremely heavy challenge from Galatasaray's Felipe Melo, one that should have had the Brazilian seeing red, Wenger said in his post-match press conference.

But the decision to take Sanchez off was purely tactical, while strapping his foot with an ice pack was a precaution.

"It could have been a red. I’ll have to see it again," Wenger said of the Melo challenge after the game.

"It looked from where I was that it was a red.

"I took Alexis off to be a bit more solid defensively once we were down to 10 men. Unfortunately, in my life I haven’t met many players who are happy to come off."

The Gunners were hugely impressive in the Emirates thanks to a Danny Welbeck hat-trick; Sanchez also scored one and assisted another.

There was a dampener on the night, however, when Wojciech Szczesny was needlessly sent off after rushing off his line to concede a penalty.