Sanchez bust-up reports completely false: Wenger

london — Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger dismissed reports of a training-ground bust-up involving star forward Alexis Sanchez as “completely false” on Monday.

The 28-year-old 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 Wenger before the session.

Sanchez started Saturday’s 3-1 Premier League defeat at Liverpool on the bench, coming on at half-time and making a goal for Danny Welbeck.

Asked about the reports at a press conference prior to Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Bayern Munich, Wenger said they were “completely false”.

When you don’t win the games there are sometimes stories

Arsene Wenger

“Nothing happened, nothing at all,” Wenger told reporters at Arsenal’s London Colney base.

“But I understand that you have to fill the newspapers and we respect that. When you don’t win the games there are sometimes stories.”

Wenger said tactical factors had been the “unique reason” for his decision to start with Sanchez on the bench at Anfield, where Olivier Giroud and Welbeck started up front.

“His attitude is he’s a committed player,” Wenger said of Sanchez. “Sometimes with excessive behaviours, but he’s been in every squad.

“The definition of a happy person is very difficult. I never found the ideal one.

“On the football front, it is to play well and win. I hope he is happy tomorrow.”

While Wenger tried his best to keep the peace, he did express frustration with Sanchez’s recent performances in Arsenal’s most important matches.

“Sanchez played in all the games when we didn’t perform, at Manchester City, Chelsea,” he said.

“Everybody is a top player at this level. It’s not down to one individual. It’s important we all perform as a team.”

Pressed on whether Sanchez would be restored to the starting line-up on Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium, Wenger said he was yet to make up his mind. —