Alexis Sanchez set to appear in a Barcelona court to answer tax fraud allegations

Alexis Sanchez will appear in a Barcelona court to answer tax fraud allegations.

The Arsenal winger has had his request to appear on video link from London granted by the judge.

It is claimed that Sanchez failed to pay tax on £888,246 in a period between 2012 and 2013 - an allegation which the Chile international denies.

He will answer questions from the judge in January.

Despite the court case, Sanchez remains free to play for Arsenal against Manchester United on Saturday afternoon.

The 27-year-old only returned from international duty on Thursday and there is expected to be a late decision on whether he will face United at Old Trafford.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger has a dilemma over whether to risk Sanchez after a 15-hour flight back from South America and just one training session.

Sanchez wants to start at Old Trafford despite suffering a hamstring injury scare which ruled him out of one of Chile's World Cup qualifiers.

Wenger could go for Olivier Giroud up front as the worry remains that Sanchez could be fatigued after his long trip and damage the hamstring.

Giroud has had to play second fiddle for much of the current campaign, with Sanchez having impressed since becoming the focal point of the Gunners attack.