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Alexis Sanchez frustrated at Arsenal, sparking doubts over new contract talks


Arsène Wenger, Arsenal’s under-fire manager, is facing a fresh headache over Alexis Sánchez as the forward’s frustration with life at the Emirates increases. Sánchez has two years remaining on his contract but Arsenal may now face a battle to convince him to sign an extension.

Sánchez’s feelings boiled over last week in the victory over Norwich, when he was replaced by Francis Coquelin in the 84th minute. The Daily Telegraph can now reveal Sánchez not only headed straight down the tunnel without acknowledging Wenger, but then stormed out of the stadium.

The incident was a culmination of weeks of tension surrounding Sánchez, who has struggled to consistently reproduce the brilliant form of his first season at the club.

Wenger tried to gloss over the Chile international’s reaction, insisting he was simply demonstrating his desire to play. But, privately, the Frenchman is understood to be unimpressed. The atmosphere between them is believed to have been frosty in training this week, although Sánchez is expected to start against Manchester City on Sunday.


He has admitted in the past that he argues with Wenger over the amount of playing time he is given and Arsenal will hope the latest episode blows over quickly. But with fans already on Wenger’s back after the club yet again failed to maintain a Premier League title challenge, he could do without this Sánchez spat.

It is not the first time that Sánchez has made it clear he is not entirely happy, and that does not gone down well with some team-mates. After back-to-back league defeats by Manchester United and Swansea City, Sánchez questioned the desire of the Arsenal players to win silverware, saying: “If we go out on to the pitch with hunger to become champions, to win the Premier League or the Champions League, we can achieve it, to win big things.


“There are great players. I train with them daily and they have got the mentality and the desire to win but we lack hunger, the mentality that we are [already] winning 1-0 when we go out on to the pitch.”

Even if a contract extension remains unsigned, it would be a surprise if Arsenal considered selling Sánchez this summer, although Bayern Munich have been linked with him and there have been suggestions that Pep Guardiola could try to take him to Manchester City.

After signing from Barcelona for £35 million, Sánchez enjoyed a brilliant first season for Arsenal and scored 25 goals in all competitions.

He had scored five goals in five games but Wenger felt Sánchez was not tracking back enough as Arsenal attempted to protect their lead against Norwich. That prompted an angry reaction from the 27-year-old, whose form has suffered a number of dips in this campaign.

Wenger believes Sánchez has been hindered by helping Chile win last summer’s Copa America and said: “It had an impact on him this season I think ... after some big achievement like that you always have a bit of decompression. I think he suffered physically this season from that.”





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