Well that’s everything cleared up then.
The question mark hanging precariously over Alexis Sanchez’s Arsenal career remains one of the talking points of the week.
The sight of Sanchez on Arsenal’s bench for the Gunners’ crunch Premier League tie at Anfield raised eyebrows before an explanation seemed to arrive via a Telegraph story which reported a training ground bust-up as the reason behind manager Arsene Wenger’s decision to drop the prolific goalscorer from his starting XI.
Inching towards the exit https://t.co/r4qI8h6p2p
— FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) March 6, 2017
It didn’t take long for Wenger to refute those claims as “completely false,” as he accused the media of dishonesty in their reporting.
“Yes, completely false, but I understand you have to fill the newspapers and we have to respect that,” Wenger said at a press conference on Monday.
“When you don’t win the games, it’s not always down to real stories and we have to accept that.”
The Chile international took to the training pitch on Monday, and was even pictured shaking hands with his manager before he posted the below message on Instagram.
“The true warrior fights not because he hates the ones in front of him, but because he loves those behind him,” Sanchez wrote.
“Let’s go Gunners. ‘The only failure is not trying.'”
And fans all had a different take on what their top scorer meant by the message.
There was a lot of confusion.
@Alexis_Sanchez what the fuck is this supposed to mean
— daézhön | 30/06/2017 (@DSwan_) March 6, 2017
@Alexis_Sanchez @Luke_Rice8 fuck knows what this means….
— Charlie Jamès Rice (@Criceey10) March 6, 2017
There was even more begging.
@Alexis_Sanchez PLEASE STAY
— ollie Winch-Furness (@olliewf14) March 6, 2017
@Alexis_Sanchez you are the only man who fight on the playground. Plaese stay
— ∂Ӈɱҽժ™ (@Wanted_002) March 6, 2017
@Alexis_Sanchez please don’t leave ??
— Ryan Morgan (@Ryan_Morgan9) March 6, 2017
Some felt the post reflected a genuine hatred between Sanchez and Wenger.
@Alexis_Sanchez hates Wenger confirmed
— Tanzeel (@I_Gas247) March 6, 2017
While others read it as a confirmation of an intention to remain an Arsenal player.
@Alexis_Sanchez He’s staying lads! ?
— Gaming Akhtar Style (@GameAkhtarStyle) March 6, 2017
@alexis_sanchez yes he’s staying
— Tubagus Rakhmad Y.M. (@tubagusrym11) March 6, 2017
The cryptic nature of the post even confused respected football journalists.
This could be the modern-day version of ‘When the seagulls follow the trawler…’ https://t.co/pVeJtPI4GY
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) March 6, 2017
So is Sanchez saying he is the fighter and his team-mates aren’t trying?!
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) March 6, 2017
Or is it all just happy families and they’re all in together…? ??
— Mark Ogden (@MarkOgden_) March 6, 2017
While fans from other clubs lined up to take advantage of a top talent feeling unsettled.
@Alexis_Sanchez join liverpool?
— ?نور صوفيا (@SofiaEriana) March 6, 2017
@Alexis_Sanchez join United
— Al (@baiierMkhi) March 6, 2017
@Alexis_Sanchez come Chelsea mate
— Ed (@ilSloth) March 6, 2017
