Are Arsenal team-mates distracting Alexis from performing?

Chuba Akpom revealed that Alexis Sanchez is getting a hard time by his team-mates in the Arsenal dressing room of late, having become the subject of ridicule since failing to secure a switch away this summer.

The Chilean was believed to have been keen on securing a move to a Champions League side all summer, and was later thought to have agree personal terms over a switch to Manchester City on Deadline Day, only for the Gunners to backtrack.

Arsenal were only to allow Alexis to leave should they secure his replacement, and once Monaco’s Thomas Lemar refused to quit his current club, Sanchez was forced to stay put.

His team-mates have now begun to taunt the forward about his failed move, although it is all claimed to be ‘banter’.

Akpom said: “We do banter about it to be fair. But at the end of the day, he’s still at Arsenal.

“Everyone is happy, the fans are happy and he’s happy.

“I think with a player like Sanchez he just blocks it out because all he wants to do is play football.

“He’s so focused on football, he blocks out a lot of negativity and transfer rumours.”

The 28 year-old has struggled to hit the heights of previous seasons so far, and has been criticised for his performances in recent weeks, and the supposed ‘banter’ may well be distracting him, despite Akpom’s claims he ignores it all.

Alexis will no doubt play a key role in our campaign should he manage to concentrate his mind onto his football, but that may get tougher and tougher as the winter window looms come January.

Could the banter be distracting Alexis from his football? Will he be able to hit top form for Arsenal this season?

Pat J

Tags Akpom alexis sanchez Arsenal Man City

19 Comments

  1. No body likes to be where they don’t want to be but as Akpom said his happy playing football and his team mates and friends just having a friendly banter as we all do, i think its all healthy and quite normal, good lough will break the ice,

    my concern with Sanchez is not his team mates its his game play lately he has become a ball huger, his not releasing the ball early or his trying too hard to go it alone

    1. Seriously Alexis hasn’t hit top form yet because he had no pre-season. Did not get back to the club till a few days before the season starts and he is just coming to full fitness now . Do you honestly think Alexis Sanchez gives a shit about what others talk shit about to him . He will do his talking on the pitch watch and see .

  2. I feel we can still convince Sanchez to stay if we can get Lacazetti firing and another forward playing well hopefully Welbeck he may decide to become a legend here. With him and the two mentioned in attack his pressing wont be in vein as the other two will help him out. With the way City are playing atm maybe he will realise its not in his best interests to go there as Sane and Sterling are younger and beginning to show there worth and the Neymar saga might put him off PSG. So hopefully we can be in the title race( we wont win it but 3/5 points off top) by christmas and we should offer him 310pw making him the highest earner in the league. Then sell Ozil and January and replace with either a cm or Lemar along with Sanchez signing the extenion. This would create an enormous buzz around the emirates that will hopefully push us to a top 4 finish another fa cup and a europa league title.

  3. To me its crap. It’s not Sanchez’s fault he was kept against his wish. Everybody wants to be a winner, I don’t blame him for seeking a move in the first place though its all gone now. Nasri did, Van Persie did, Adebayor did, hell even Sagna did and they all ended up with the EPL. So its not new seeing a player wants out of Arsenal.
    It’s normal to face troubles, but it gets to a point where you say No and just gotta stick up for yourself.
    Truth be told 97% of we Fans if we’re to be in his shoe, wouldn’t renew the contract when there are bigger clubs calling for our signature. I know I won’t sign it if it were me, we all want success so just stop the hypocritical comments. And now that he’s still here all we have to do is give him the support he needs for his last season not distract or still hate on him. I can only expect him to deliver and the rest of the players to lift us this season. Nuf said

    1. You are right, everyone wants to be a winner because winner wins something. Which Alexis is as an arsenal player. He won four or seven trophies if you want to count community shield as a trophy. Sagna has an EPL medal with City i don’t know that. Honestly, i can believe people thumbed you up for that. Anything to bring arsenal is well appreciated these days even if it a lie. Well Sagna joined city in 2014 after they won their last EPL and the only trophy he won with them is league cup.

      1. ..everything to bring arsenal down these days are well appreciated…”Truth be told 97% of we Fans if we’re to be in his shoe, wouldn’t renew the contract when there are bigger clubs calling for our signature ” That makes me laugh. We are in more than his shoe. At least he is getting paid for wearing that shoe . Don’t make it sound like he is on charity. He’s being for 3 years plus and fans have being with the club forever and have seen far worse.

    2. By way of correction, Nasri did not seek a transfer away from Arsenal, but was sold by the board.

    3. Your full of perspective post, which many “one eyed” fans have chosen to dislike for reasons of not wishing to accept the truth, perfectly illustrates the fact – which I have also been saying on social media for years past – that these days, players are very rarely actual FANS of the club they play for and who pay their grotesque wages. Not merely at Arsenal, but at every big club worldwide. Loyalty to clubs is almost solely the possession of fans and also often those who work behind the scenes at clubs, kit man, tea lady etc. Most fans cannot stomach this truth however, as it disturbs their fantasy that players CARE as much as the fans do. They don’t (though there are exceptions). THIS IS WHY THESE NAIVE FANTASISTS HAVE DISLIKED YOUR TRUTHFUL POST. Once players have reached top level and have established careers and usually families to support, their JOB – AND THAT IS WHAT IT IS – comes first and loyalty to the playing cluib is only skin deep. Though as I say there are exceptions. IT is depressing how immature many fans are and how reluctant they are to admit the plain truth to themselves. These are the ones who will also dislike this truthful post in support of yours.

      1. @ Jon Fox tell them hypocritical fans. Who would want to sign the contract when it’s clear the club ain’t ready to to compete with the biggest clubs

  4. I love Sanchez. A huge fan of his ability and desire.

    But I don’t think I will say the same thing now about Him.

    I hope it won’t be the case of “I used to like Him”

  5. Tocopilla tornado . Banter is nothing to him
    He should play league games an fa cup
    Still vital while he’s here

    Let ozil Theo an other chronic under performers prove themselves in the backwaters of hungary

  6. I love Sanchez and respect the way he has conducted himself. He never handed in a transfer request and he never said anything negative about the club or manager.

    Also, don’t forget last season Sanchez scored most of his goals as a central striker until Wenger moved him back to the left wing when his goals understandably dried up a little bit.

    City has been quite effective playing Jesus and Aguero as double strikers in a two-upfront formation. I wonder if Wenger would get more goals out of the squad if he tried to play Sanchez and Laca in a similar fashion.

    1. No, he was just sulking on the bench when we were beating Swansea by 4-0, and after he already scored a goal; and laughing his arse off when we were having our butts kicked by Liverpool. I would’ve actually preferred if he handed in a transfer request. Because it is clear now that he doesn’t care about Arsenal, and is only playing for himself.

      1. I would have preferred if we had sold him early or in the middle of the window and use the funds to strengthen the squad. It was not up to Sanchez to decide on his future. It was up to the club.

  7. Vlad, You are clearly under the self delusion that most top players actually deeply care for their clubs, hence your criticism of Sanchez. Yes, I agree he was laughing while on the bench and that is deepoly disrespectful of his employers. BUT, employers is what Arsenal are, to him and to almost all players worldwide. It is not opinion but FACT THAT ALL TOP PLAYERS ARE OBSCENELY PAID , and that being so, the further price we overcharged fans pay for this oscenity is that playrs worship tgwo things only. Firstly money and still more money. Secondly , silverware in high level compettitions. If their present club is unlikely to win they will move elsewhere at the drop of a hat, esp for more lucrative contracts and big signing on fee etc. If you will not accept this plain truth, then you will continue to fool yourself. Your only comfort being that myriad thousands of other fans share your self delusion. MEANWHILE THOSE IN CHARGE, OWNERS, CLUBS, AGENTS AND PLAYERS ALL KNOW THE TRUTH. Try to be grown up and actually see the wider picture.

    1. I work for a large international train corporation. I’m well compensated, but trust me, money is not the only thing that matters to me. I actually take pride in what I do, and I’m totally invested in the company’s business and committed to its cause. In simpler terms, I want my employer to succeed in all of its ventures. Obviously, if the company does well so do I, but there’s more to it than just that. Same can be applied to professional sports/athletes, and football players in particular. They get paid for what they do on the pitch which makes them the employees of the football club. So if I don’t do my job, I get fired. If they don’t do theirs, they should get the same treatment. There should be no room for sulking, or laughing at the owner’s misfortunes. Do your job, do it well, or get the can.

      1. Vlad, I own my own business and think like an owner, you are employed and think like an employee. Guess that is to be expected.

        But as an owner, I think the client is always right and more important than myself. If I think we do a good job but customer feedback is different I adjust.

        The fans are the ultimate customers of Kroenke and the club hence the club should ignore the fans at their own peril.

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