Monday 6 March 2017 11:58, UK
Alexis Sanchez is a winner and will be frustrated with Arsenal’s lack of domestic and European success, according to the Premier League Daily panel.
The 28-year-old started the Gunners' defeat to Liverpool on Saturday on the bench - a move which Arsene Wenger admitted backfired - and widespread reports having since suggested the Chile international was involved in a training ground bust-up with his team-mates prior to the 3-1 loss.
Sanchez was introduced at half-time and set up Danny Welbeck's goal for Arsenal, but could not prevent the Gunners from slipping out of the Champions League places with the defeat at Anfield.
Tony Cottee and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink told Premier League Daily that they can understand why the forward would be upset, with his side's title challenge faltering and facing a huge task to reach the quarter-finals of the Champions League following a 5-1 first-leg loss to Bayern Munich.
"Arsenal need Sanchez," Cottee said. "It is not a case of being bigger than the club but he is so important and fundamental to what they want to try and achieve at the football club.
"I think he is frustrated, Sanchez. He has shown his frustration, he's probably frustrated with the contract, he's probably frustrated with the fact that Arsenal, again, look like they are not going to be winning anything and that must be frustrating, not just for him but for all the Arsenal fans as well.
"Arsene Wenger quite rightly points out that for the last 20 years they have finished top four and qualified for the Champions League and they deserve great credit for that. But football is about winning, you have to win things.
"You don't play football to finish fourth or third or second. This guy is a winner, he wants to win things, he wants to win the league, he wants to win the Champions League. I bet inside he is so frustrated and he just wants to go on and win something."
Alexis Sanchez's selfish tantrums hinder Arsenal, says Niall Quinn
Hasselbaink agreed and believes Sanchez has high standards after moving to the Emirates from Barcelona.
"Let's not forget where he came from at Barcelona, where you had to win, where he came out of a really successful team," Hasselbaink said. "He didn't play every match - that's why he left but they were winning Champions Leagues, the league, so he is here now and that's what he wants to do.
"Sometimes that brings frustration and silliness with saying things that you should not say but, at the end of the day, he is a winner. On the pitch he has conducted himself really well so we have always seen the best out of him.
"We don't know what has happened in training or whatever and all those kinds of things but what we have seen as supporters and football lovers is that he has always brought his best forward."
Cottee admitted to being baffled by Wenger's decision to leave Sanchez on the bench against Liverpool and said he would be a great loss to the Premier League if he was to move on, with his contract set to expire at the end of next season.
"I don't understand it, I thought it was a bizarre decision not to play him," Cottee added. "You are playing against Champions League rivals, playing at Anfield - always a tough place to go to and you leave out your best player. I really don't understand that. You have to play him - he is their main man, their top man.
"There is a lot wrong at Arsenal at the moment and most of it revolves around the manager. There needs to be clarity on his situation, Sanchez's contract is running down, he's got just over a year left, but what a great shame it will be for the Premier League if this guy actually does leave and goes to a different country.
"I love watching him play, he is a brilliant player and I want to see him stay in the Premier League with Arsenal or, if not with Arsenal, then with someone else in the Premier League because he is that good."
