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Sanchez was an 'animal', says Wenger

Cape Town - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger hailed Alexis Sanchez after the forward scored the winning goal in extra-time in the FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday.

The Gunners had to reach the final - where they will face Chelsea next month - the hard way as they fell behind to a Sergio Aguero strike on the hour mark.

Nacho Monreal equalised for the London club that took the game into extra-time before Sanchez capped an energetic display with the winner.

Sanchez has been strongly linked with a move away from Arsenal with his contract expiring at the end of next season but Wenger insists his match winner is going nowhere.

Wenger said: "Alexis Sanchez was like the team. He had problems to start and became stronger and stronger. He is an animal, always ready to kill the opponent. He will never give up.

"He will be here next year because he has a contract and hopefully we will manage to extend him."

The French mentor added: "When at Arsenal football club we want the team to turn up in big games and I think we done that today.

"Overall I am very pleased. People questioned us, we went through tough times. In these times you can be divided or united and today we have shown the right response."

Arsenal next face a tricky fixture on Wednesday as they welcome a resurgent Leicester City to the Emirates Stadium before traveling to White Hart Lane to face rivals, Tottenham Hotspur in a London derby.

The action gets underway at 20:45.

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