Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has said that Alexis Sanchez has the "potential and the quality" to reach the level of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Earlier this week, Sanchez claimed that he had the same "abilities" as the two players regarded as the best in world football, and while Wenger suggests that the Chilean must improve his consistency, he has claimed that the attacker is capable of matching the Barcelona and Real Madrid stars.

Wenger told reporters: "That's what you want him to do but, you know, Ronaldo and Messi have done that for years so the consistency of their performances speaks for them.

"I hope Alexis can get that. He's ambitious and of course he is a guy who wants to win every game so it's good to have that kind of ambition to be the best. He has the potential and the quality, it's just up to him to show that."

Sanchez is considered a doubt for Arsenal's meeting with Southampton on Saturday afternoon after a late return from international duty.