Alexis Sanchez’s goal celebrations snubbed by Arsenal team-mates including Jack Wilshere, Sead Kolasinac and Laurent Koscielny
Koscielny also appeared to refuse joining in Sanchez's second of the night by remaining stationary in his own half
HALF of Arsenal’s outfield players failed to celebrate Alexis Sanchez’s opener against Crystal Palace last night, prompting Thierry Henry to claim of a rift in the dressing room.
The five players who did not run over to join Sanchez’s celebrations for his first goal in the 3-2 win were Laurent Koscielny, Sead Kolasinac, Jack Wilshere, Hector Bellerin and Calum Chambers.
Koscielny then remained rooted to the ground in his own half as everyone congratulated Sanchez on his second just minutes later.
Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette, Granit Xhaka and Shodkran Mustafi were the only four to revel in the Chilean’s opener at Selhurst Park.
And Sanchez was spotted gesturing at a number of team-mates who clearly had no interest in patting him on the back.
The 29-year-old could be off as early as January after refusing to sign a new Arsenal contract.
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And Gunners legend Henry believes it’s clear that there are now opposing factions behind the scenes at the club.
He told Sky Sports: “There is a division in the team. He (Sanchez) is asking them to come and celebrate. ‘Why are they not coming? Don’t you want to celebrate?’
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“I don’t know what the situation is there but usually when your team scores you don’t look at who scores.
“If you start to think, ‘Shall I go, shall I not go’ there’s something we don’t know exactly what’s happening.
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“What I’m trying to say is you’re not here for Alexis Sanchez, you’re here for Arsenal. Arsenal scored, go and celebrate.
“I noticed it (Sanchez gesturing). Sanchez made me notice it. It was like he thought he was alone.”
Fellow pundit Graeme Souness added: “It’s a divided dressing room, some of them are not having Sanchez and his situation.
“I think it’s clear, I think it tells you there’s a dynamic going on in that dressing room that would suggest it’s not well.”
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However, Arsene Wenger claimed to see no problem, saying: “Always, when people don’t have long contracts they are questioned.
“The best way to show they are committed is to give that kind of performance.
“I felt he was very good tonight from the first minute, focused right on the game. This kind of Sanchez is a great football player, as we know.
“That’s the kind of performance we want from him. First of all nobody knows what will happen with him really. It’s difficult to speculate.”