ARSENAL’s dressing room is now reportedly a close resemblance to West Ham’s with Dimitri Payet due to Alexis Sanchez.
The Gunners ace is said to have become an outcast behind-the-scenes as his behaviour is causing problems.
Sanchez’s much-publicised training-ground strop at Arsenal’s Cobham complex saw the Chile international dropped by Arsene Wenger and confronted by captain Laurent Koscielny.
While the forward has since returned to the starting line-up, scoring in yesterday’s 5-0 FA Cup quarter-final win over Lincoln at the Emirates, the atmosphere remains frosty off the field.
Sanchez appears ready to quit Arsenal this summer, as Express Sport understands Manchester United are now monitoring his situation among a host of top European sides.
And that would follow a similar sequence of events to what happened with Payet at London rivals West Ham earlier this season.
The ex-Premier League star’s desire to leave the Hammers saw him alienate himself from team-mates and create a toxic atmosphere in the West Ham camp which contributed to poor results.
Alexis Sanchez looks glum in Arsenal training
Fri, March 10, 2017Alexis Sanchez looked a little glum in training as Arsenal prepare for their FA Cup clash with Lincoln
Click through the gallery for the best snaps of Alexis Sanchez in training
Sanchez has not gone as far as refusing to play at Arsenal, but according to the Mirror, the 28-year-old is upsetting the team, who are in support of Wenger.
“Alexis is being moody and disruptive and it’s getting to the rest of the squad,” an Arsenal dressing-room source told the Mirror.
“The players are getting fed-up with it.
“If it came to a straight choice between which side to choose, there is no doubt they would back the manager.”
Wenger’s future at Arsenal is under just as much speculation as Sanchez’s, with the boss still undecided over whether he will sign on for another two years.
But while the manager has had to deal with fan protests of late, his players are sticking by him over the Alexis Sanchez saga.
A £250,000-a-week contract could yet convince Arsenal’s key man to stay, but the club are not ready to meet his demands.
And they will have seen how West Ham’s form drastically improved and players united under Slaven Bilic after Payet was sold to Marseille in January.