Infurated Arsene Wenger has attacked former Arsenal legend, Thierry Henry over his comments about Alexis Sanchez.
The angered Arsenal manager has hit back at Thierry Henry after the Arsenal legend accused Alexis Sanchez of sparking a dressing-room rift.
Wenger was furious at being questioned about the failure of Sanchez’s team-mates to celebrate his two-goal contribution in Thursday’s 3-2 victory at Crystal Palace.
Alexis Sanchez has caused a divide in the dressing room according to Henry
And the Gunners boss fears that Sanchez’s failure to come clean about his future means he will be criticised for the rest of the season.
Wenger said: “It’s a problem when Alexis plays well and it’s a problem when he doesn’t play well. It’s unbelievable.
“You turn up, you play football and that’s it. After that you judge whether he played well or not, but some people always want it to be a problem.”
Arsenal’s record scorer Henry claimed some players deliberately snubbed Sanchez’s goal celebrations.
Thierry Henry believes there is more than meets the eye at Arsenal.
Thierry Henry suggested that Sanchez looked 'alone' after scoring his goals
Henry said: “There is a division in the team. He is asking them to come and celebrate. ‘Why are you not coming? Don’t you want to celebrate?’.
“I noticed it. Sanchez made me notice it. It was like he thought he was alone.”
Sanchez, 29, is into the final six months of his contract and will be free to negotiate with interested foreign clubs when the transfer window opens tomorrow.
Wenger will continue to select the £33million Chilean for as long as he remains at the club.
The Frenchman said: “I am not a psychologist. I don’t know what is going on in his head and whether he is with us short-term or long-term.
“From Monday he is free to go where he wants if it’s a foreign club, but that’s not my problem.
Arsene Wenger defended contract rebel Alexis Sanchez's commitment after his double against Crystal Palace
“My problem is just to win the game at West Brom.”
Midfielders Mesut Ozil and Jack Wilshere are also out of contract in the summer and have yet to agree new deals. But Wenger is increasingly confident of coming to an arrangement with Wilshere and has nothing but admiration for the way the England international has revived his career.
Wilshere, who turns 26 tomorrow, has missed more than three years of his career through injury and spent last season away from the Gunners on loan at Bournemouth.
But he has now proved his fitness and been Arsenal’s best player over this period to keep the side in contention for a top-four finish.
Wenger said: “I never gave up on Jack because I have always believed in him, but we have to give him great credit for what he has gone through.
Alexis Sanchez appeared to make a gesture to Mesut Ozil during his celebration
“It’s all nicey-nicey when you are 17, super talented and everybody says you are the greatest player.
“But to come back to that level after all that he has gone through in recent years shows a special character and I have a big respect for that.
“When we play with five at the back like we did at Crystal Palace on Thursday, the system suits him well because I like to have more offensive players in midfield.
The sun UK
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