Arsene Wenger hinted nothing had changed in his approach to Alexis Sanchez’s future at Arsenal despite the prospect of an imminent bid for the Chilean’s services from Manchester City.
Speaking after the game City manager Pep Guardiola said he would have “meetings” to decide whether the club would respond to the injury setback in the transfer market, though added that “my feeling now is that Alexis is an Arsenal player.”
Wenger has not masked his frustration at questions over his star forward, whose contract expires at the end of the season and who has rejected an extension worth around £300,000-a-week, and refused to offer an extensive answer when asked about the Chilean after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw at West Brom.
Sanchez’s deflected free-kick gave Arsenal an 83rd minute lead in the draw against the Baggies, and asked whether the Chile international had played his last game for Arsenal Wenger tried to dodge the question: “We play on Wednesday night [against Chelsea].
“I have spoken many times about that, I’m not ready to talk about that some more.
“I have given you my answer many times, I don’t see why I should come back on a subject we have talked about 155 times.”
Sanchez came close to a £60m switch to Manchester City on deadline day in August only to see his preferred move fall apart when Arsenal were unable to complete a deal for his replacement, Monaco winger Thomas Lemar.
Since then Sanchez has at times cut a frustrated figure on the pitch, with debate this week centring on some of his team-mates, including vice-captain Laurent Koscielny, seemingly not joining him to celebrate his goals against Crystal Palace.
Notably all 10 outfield players celebrated the free-kick that gave Arsenal the lead, and would subsequently be credited as a James McClean own goal, and Wenger insisted there had never been any problems between Sanchez and his team-mates over their non-celebration.
