Fake news: Arsene Wenger says Alexis Sanchez bust-up story is ‘completely false’
Arsenal manager insists he still has the support of his squad
Arsene Wenger dismissed reports of an Arsenal bust-up involving star forward Alexis Sanchez and attempted to rally his men on Monday, the eve of their Champions League clash with Bayern Munich.
But captain Per Mertesacker admitted to tension in the dressing room and said his struggling team haven’t shown enough fight, as they seek to pull off the improbable and overturn a 5-1 first-leg deficit.
The 28-year-old Sanchez was reported to have stormed off the training pitch last week before becoming involved in an angry confrontation with his team-mates, but he took part in training on Monday and shook hands with manager Wenger before the session.
Sanchez started Saturday’s 3-1 Premier League defeat at Liverpool on the bench, coming on at half-time and creating a goal for Danny Welbeck.
Asked about the reports at a press conference prior to Tuesday’s last-16 second leg at the Emirates, Wenger said they were “completely false”.
“Nothing happened, nothing at all,” Wenger said.