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Alexis Sanchez hits out at Arsenal fans' 'very bad' anti-Arsene Wenger demonstrations

Wenger’s current contract at Arsenal expires this summer, with the Frenchman refusing to give any indication as to whether he will extend his 21-year-long stay

Mark Critchley
Thursday 18 May 2017 11:42 BST
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Alexis Sanchez has mounted a defence of his beleaguered manager Arsene Wenger
Alexis Sanchez has mounted a defence of his beleaguered manager Arsene Wenger

Alexis Sanchez has criticised the ‘very bad’ demonstrations by the sections of Arsenal’s support which are calling for Arsène Wenger to step down as manager.

Wenger’s current contract at Arsenal expires this summer, with the Frenchman refusing to give any indication as to whether he will extend his 21-year-long stay in north London.

What’s more, unless Arsenal better Liverpool’s result on the final day of the Premier League season this Sunday, Wenger will suffer his lowest-ever league finish since taking the reins in 1996.

Struggles on-the-pitch have led to protests off it, with a ‘Wenger Out’ movement becoming increasingly vocal among Arsenal’s support.

When asked about the demonstrations against Wenger, Sanchez launched a defence of his manager, claiming: “This is normal. I think in every team they always buy more players.

“Barca, Real Madrid, Bayern, they always buy more players and I think we can have the option to buy more players to be stronger every day.

“For me, it (fan demonstrations) is very bad. He is the manager who gave a stadium to the club, won cups, and he has been 21 years in the job,” he added. “He is the creator of the stadium, the players and style of the club.”


Sanchez and team-mate Mesut Özil, both key first-team players whose own contracts expire in 13 months’ time, are, like Wenger, yet to sign a new deal and commit their long-term future to the club.

Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City are among the clubs to have been linked with Sanchez in recent months, but the Chilean only reiterated his claim that his future depends on Arsenal.

“I cannot tell you now (about my future). We have to wait until the end of the season. As I always say, it doesn’t depend on me. It depends on the club. What they like, what they don’t like.

"I always said the same: I try to do my best, to support the team, to score goals, to win victories, and we will see at the end.

“If they like that I carry on, or they don’t. Whatever they want, we will see it at the end of the tournament.”

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