ALEXIS SANCHEZ HAS “clocked off” at Arsenal as he continues to seek a move away from the club, says Ian Wright.
The Chilean forward was prevented from departing Emirates Stadium over the summer, with a deadline day bid from Manchester City knocked back.
Arsenal always knew that they were running a risk by rejecting interest from other clubs, with Sanchez entering the final year of his contract.
No fresh terms have been agreed with the 29-year-old as yet and Wright believes that the questionable attitude of an unsettled performer suggests that his mind is already elsewhere.
The former Gunners striker told Radio 5 Live of a player who could be on the move in January: “It does look to me like he’s clocked off.
“Sanchez’s attitude is saying a lot about him. If he left in January, the way he’s playing now, I can’t see how that’s going to hurt Arsenal. He’s not playing well enough.
“He’s not putting in a shift. [Philippe] Coutinho wanted to leave [Liverpool]; he put in a transfer request but look at the way he’s playing. Look at the way [Mesut] Ozil is playing.
“You’ve got to still put it in. He’s not putting it in. It says a lot about him.
“People looking in who are potential buyers, what are they thinking about him and his attitude?
“I can’t see Ozil staying but what we’re seeing from him now is the kind of play that we want to see from him.”
Sanchez was Arsenal’s top scorer last season, reaching the 30-goal mark across all competitions for the first time in his career, however, he has managed just five efforts this term, while contributing three assists.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
As long as BOD can walk onto the pitch, he should be Captain!!
I agree with Noel – why all the red thumbs !? – O’Driscoll should be captain.
Its the whole as long as he can walk bit. Nobody is bigger than any team…
Well… I believe a captain should always be a forward. But, BOD is a talisman. While he’s fit and picked leave him b. After that… Well, there are a few outstanding candidates brewing around the provinces…
No, the best man to captain a rugby team is always a forward. My shout would be Stephen Ferris
As fine a player as he is, I don’t think Ferris is captain material
Author, have some bottle and don’t tell the reader “the answer is yes” let the reader decide for themselves. It is a valid question to ask, and I can see your reason for being a little scared no press person dares speak ill of BOD. He has earned that respect in fairness, although his game against scarlets was shocking hope his form improves soon he wont get in to the Lions team on current form, Jonathan Davies and Jamie Roberts/Tuilagi are well ahead as it is now.
A captain has to lead on and off the pitch. nRef’s listen to BOD other players listen to BOD he has earned a respect above with only PoC in the current squad to compare with. nThere is no better 13 on this island and this earls stuff does earls no favours. He’s a winger and a very very good one but at 13 his defence is average and he can’t/wont pass the ball. He wants to play 13, well I want to fly the space shuttle neither are good ideas. nAs far as a forward as captain goes every team has a pack leader so why not allow a back to lead the team as the ref will talk to pack leader and captain too, helps if ref takes a dislike to one or the other. nAs for ferris the man has never put a run of games together, every third or forth game we’d need someone to step in. Not a good idea. n