Henry says rebel Alexis has caused rift in camp

THIERRY HENRY claimed last night that Alexis Sanchez’s contract rift with Arsenal was causing divisions at the club and that some players declined to join his goal celebrations. Henry said on Sky Sports: ‘There is a division in the team. He is asking them to come. ‘‘Why are they not coming? Don’t you want to celebrate?’’. ‘You’re not here for Alexis Sanchez, you’re here for Arsenal. Arsenal scored. Go and celebrate. Whoever does it (scores), we don’t care about that, go and celebrate with your team-mate. ‘Maybe we are reading too much into it but I noticed it. Sanchez made me notice it. It was like he thought he was alone.’ Fellow match analyst Graeme Souness agreed, saying: ‘That tells you there is a divided dressing room. That shows they aren’t having Sanchez at the moment. I only see that when teams are 5-1 up, not 2-1 up. You’re elated, you’ve just scored a goal. It is clear there is a dynamic in the dressing room that all is not well.’ But manager Arsene Wenger defended Sanchez, insisting the Chilean remains fully committed to Arsenal. When asked about Sanchez’s refusal to sign a new deal, a visibly agitated Wenger said: ‘Every press conference is a psychological problem. Talking about football would be better, I’m not a specialist in psychology. ‘They are questioned, always, when people don’t have long contracts. The best way to show they are committed is to give that kind of performance. ‘This kind of Sanchez is a great football player. That’s the kind of performance we want from him. Nobody knows what will happen (with Sanchez’s contract).’ Meanwhile, Theo Walcott, on the bench for Arsenal, and Liverpool striker Daniel Sturridge are among the players on Southampton’s shopping list as they look to spend the £75million recouped from Virgil van Dijk’s exit. Swansea’s Alfie Mawson and Fulham’s Ryan Sessegnon are also on the Saints’ radar.