New details have emerged regarding the rift between Alexis Sánchez and his Arsenal team-mates during his time at the club.
After failing to secure a move away last summer, Sánchez remained at the Emirates Stadium for the first half of this season before joining Manchester United in January.
But according to numerous reports, the Chilean’s open desire to leave the Gunners made him a deeply unpopular figure in the dressing room and now German journalist Raphael Honigstein – who is currently working with Per Mertersacker on his new autobiography – has lifted the lid on just how much Sánchez’s eventual departure came as a relief to Arsène Wenger’s squad.
“It’s been under-reported just how badly the whole Arsenal dressing room hated Alexis Sanchez," Honigstein told the Totally Football Show podcast.
“They really felt he was just playing up for the camera.
“He was doing all these things like ‘Oh, I’m trying! What are the rest of you doing?!’
“Arsenal put up stats inside the dressing room after every game showing kilometres run, the passing etc.
“Sanchez would regularly come out with the lowest mileage – by a big distance."
The 29-year-old has so far made an underwhelming start to life at Old Trafford, with just one goal in nine appearances to date, while Henrikh Mkhitaryan – who moved to Arsenal in the opposite direction as part of the deal – has fared rather better since switching clubs.
MKHITARYAN: 8 Apps, 2 Goals, 5 Assists
SANCHEZ: 9 Apps, 1 Goal, 2 Assists
https://1.ftb.al/0z88HL43fL
Thoughts? I think Alexis always had a winning personality that some of the Arsenal squad could not match. It probably annoyed them as they didn’t have that mentality and weren’t used to players who did (bar a few exceptions).
Having said that I do think Sanchez in his last 12 months at Arsenal he crossed that line to being trouble and thinking he’s bigger than he is. Some of his behaviour was wrong.
Arsenal dressing room hatred towards Alexis
posted on 13/3/18
Have you seen this thing about Mertesacker being 'relieved' to be knocked out in the semi finals of the world cup so he didn't have t face the pressure of the final
posted on 13/3/18
comment by sammy nelson sbum (U6244)
posted 9 minutes ago
We've got Iwobi filling his place so that's a real improvement in anyone's books.
Can you imagine a partnership of Sanchez and Aubama?
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Well, we do seem to have rediscovered the lost art of the counter attack.
Not to belittle Sanchez' contribution during his time with us, but we do seem to be moving the ball forward with some degree of fluidity since he left.
posted on 13/3/18
He'll flop at utd that's all I care about
posted on 13/3/18
Honigstein really?
posted on 13/3/18
And yet this same club's fans tolerated Fabregas and van Persie in that same dressing room without too many questions (or posts) on such forums.
Hmm ........
........ selective
posted on 13/3/18
comment by IAmMe (U18491)
posted 11 minutes ago
And yet this same club's fans tolerated Fabregas and van Persie in that same dressing room without too many questions (or posts) on such forums.
Hmm ........
........ selective
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maybe those two weren't little b!tches like sanchez
posted on 13/3/18
I don't care that the other players didn't like him - most people don't like their failures being highlighted.
Sure the players find it more comfortable without him but look how we have performed since he left - Alexis could lift us, nobody else seems capable of that so far.
The reason Alexis is not doing well at Old Trafford is due to Maureen's tactics, which are unbelievably boring and are just not working.
posted on 13/3/18
It's very destructive when you have a player like Sanchez acting like that. Yes he's good but football is a team sport and great player would lift up the other players like Bergkamp did.
Unless you play a team sport you wouldn't understand how a bad apple can effect the team no matter how good he is.
posted on 13/3/18
Football stopped being a team sport when they bought in stats,everyone plays for themselves and their stats.
so often see players take a shot at goal when a teammate is in a far better position to score,all down to the dreaded stats.
posted on 14/3/18
To be honest I do no thunknhejis a world class player. He has the record of highest number of losing possession in the prem league and champs league!