FINALLY , WENGER GETS ANGRY

Heated row with staff as Gunners boss questions the attitude of every player – especially Sanchez

ARSENE WENGER showed the sort of passion that was missing from Arsenal’s lame surrender at Anfield when he met his coaching staff this week.

The Gunners boss was fuming during the training-ground inquest into what had gone wrong 24 hours earlier.

According to insiders, discussions became “very heated”, with Wenger furious about the abject nature of the defeat which left him questioning the attitude of every player.

It quickly became very clear he was not prepared to tolerate anyone not fully committed to the cause.

And the biggest question mark of all was about Alexis Sanchez after his performance in the 4-0 rout at Liverpool.

The striker was nowhere near match-fit and it was his first start of the season, yet there was the obvious doubt over whether his mind was elsewhere or he was just ring rusty. From a position of defiance over the Chile star which they have adopted all summer, Arsenal are now at the very least thinking about the possibility of cashing in rather than losing him for nothing when his contract runs out at the end of the season.

It would still take a huge offer to tempt Arsenal as some weeks ago an agreement was struck with Sanchez and his advisers. The pact involved Sanchez staying to see out the final year of his deal and not agitating for a move unless a massive bid came in.

The 28-year-old made it clear he would not sign a new contract but Arsenal believe the cost of selling him would be greater than the profit gained unless it was crazy money. He could be the difference between securing a top four place or not. That is worth £30million straight away. His goals and assists made him priceless to Arsenal last season.

But Sanchez comes with baggage, as is often the case with star players and their egos. They know they are special and can be temperamental, selfish and, at times, disruptive.

Some of his colleagues do not like him. They think he inhibits and damages the team ethic and dressing-room spirit and it is all about him rather than the team.

Sanchez can be difficult to handle in training, sulk on the pitch and throw a strop if substituted.

On one occasion when taken off late on he had showered, changed and departed by the time everyone else came in to the dressing room after the final whistle. But try

Wenger is not prepared to stomach any player who was not fully committed to the cause

explaining to fans baying for blood after the Anfield debacle that Arsenal’s best player will be sold to a rival having insisted for weeks he would be staying.

That Manchester City are the only club in the market makes it even more difficult.

Wenger has been adamant Sanchez would not be going and said the same about Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

But there is no doubt OxladeChamberlain insisting he will not agree a fresh deal, coupled with his display at Liverpool, changed Wenger’s mind.

And at the meeting he made it clear that if Oxlade-Chamberlain wants to go then he should be allowed to do so. That is why Chelsea’s bid was accepted on Monday.

It was the same for a few others. If there are deals to be done for the likes of Shkodran Mustafi (below) – a £34m mistake last summer – then ship them out and find replacements. That is why Arsenal inquired about West Brom’s Jonny Evans, although it may be too late to beat tomorrow’s transfer deadline . Wenger’s display of anger seems to indicate he is feeling the pressure. He rarely gets irate, even after a bad defeat and keeps his powder dry until he has collected his thoughts. But the veteran boss knows he is not bombproof despite signing a new two-year contract. He must deliver and the heat is on after a poor start to the season. He has a major dilemma now with Sanchez. A £70m offer would probably convince him to sell. City know the price. But the Gunners would not be able to get in a replacement quickly and clubs whose players are potential targets would see the Londoners coming a mile off with cash to spend. Yet if City are prepared to put Raheem Sterling into a player-pluscash deal, then Arsenal may be tempted. Because if for a moment Wenger believes any of his players is not fully committed – and that miserable defeat at Liverpool raised doubts about a few of them – then he would now rather offload them and find others who share his passion for the club.