The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Alexis Sanchez

  • Arsenal reject £50m from Manchester City for Sanchez

    Arsenal reject £50m from Manchester City for Sanchez

    English Premier League side Arsenal have rejected a £50 million bid from rivals Manchester City for Chilean forward Alexis Sanchez.

    Sanchez, who scored 24 Premier League goals for the Gunners last season, is out of contract next summer and has reportedly said he wants to play for City manager Pep Guardiola.

    Arsenal have rebuffed all approaches for the 28-year-old, and would like City’s Raheem Sterling as part of any deal before Thursday’s transfer deadline.

    But Guardiola, who was in charge at Sanchez’s former club FC Barcelona, is understood to want the Chilean as a straight purchase.

    England forward Sterling has featured in all three of City’s games so far this season.

    However, the 22-year-old is not guaranteed a starting role at Etihad Stadium following the summer arrival of Bernardo Silva from Monaco.

    Sanchez had joined Arsenal from FC Barcelona in 2014 for a fee of about £35 million and won the FA Cup for the second time last season.

    Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger had said few weeks ago that Sanchez would “respect” his decision and stay.

    The Chilean made his first appearance of the season in the Gunners’ 0-4 defeat at Liverpool on Sunday, coming off for Alexandre Lacazette after 62 minutes.(NAN)

  • Sanchez pays emotional visit to small town in Chile

    Sanchez pays emotional visit to small town in Chile

    Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez has paid an emotional visit to a small town in Chile as the forward continues his extended summer break following the Confederations Cup.

    The Chilean, who helped fire his country to the Confederations Cup final before being defeated by Germany, visited the very old town of Sauzal, which is home to just over 500 people.

    Sanchez, whose Arsenal future is in doubt with Manchester City and Paris Saint-Germain in the running to sign him, took to Instagram to post an emotional video of his trip back to Chile with Leona Lewis’s moving ‘Footprints in the Sand’ song playing in the background.

    Sanchez filmed his trip to Sauzal and uploaded it on his official Instagram account

    Sanchez captioned his social media post: ‘Everything you do, leave a mark on others. Try to do everything with love and the trail will be beautiful.’

    The 28-year-old filmed smoke billowing out of a forest before he was seen meeting the locals. One woman warmly embraced the country’s footballing hero while a young girl was in tears as she managed to get a photo with the Chilean star.

    Sanchez was accompanied on his visit to Sauzal by his new girlfriend Mayte Rodriguez and three other close friends as they jetted off to Chile by helicopter.

    Sanchez filmed the locals saying goodbye to him as he departed the small town

    Meanwhile, the wantaway Chilean’s future is very much up in the air, with Sanchez being constantly linked with a move away from the Emirates.

    Sanchez has made it clear he wants to challenge for the Premier League title while also attempting to add a Champions League winner’s medal to his collection.

  • Sanchez breaks Chile scoring record in Germany draw

    Sanchez breaks Chile scoring record in Germany draw

    Alexis Sanchez became Chile’s all-time leading scorer when he grabbed an early goal in their 1-1 draw with Germany at the FIFA Confederations Cup on Thursday in Russia.

    Lars Stindl equalised for the world champions just before halftime although the game petered out in the second half as the high-octane Chileans appeared to run out of gas.

    The result left both teams level at the top of Group B with four points each from their opening two games, although Chile have the better goal difference.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Australia and Cameroon have a point apiece after their 1-1 draw earlier on Thursday.

    The top two teams go through to the semi-finals and there is one round of matches in the group on Sunday, with Germany facing Cameroon and Chile playing Australia.

    Sanchez’s goal was his 38th for Chile in 113 appearances as he overtook the previous scoring record held by Marcelo Salas.

    Germany, now unbeaten in 12 games since their Euro 2016 semi-final exit, gifted Chile a sixth-minute lead when Shkodran Mustafi attempted to play the ball out of defence.

    He sent his pass straight to Sanchez who played a one-two with Vidal and toe-poked the ball in off the post.

    The referee poured cold water on Chile’s goal celebrations by appearing to call for a video reply, possibly to look at a scything tackle by Mustafi on Vidal, although the goal was quickly confirmed.

    Defender Matthias Ginter made a similar mistake soon after but was let off the hook as Germany struggled to cope with the South American side’s high pressing and quick passing.

    Chile came close to a second when Eduardo Vargas rattled the underside of the bar with a long-range drive and Sanchez continued to pester them with his marauding runs down the left.

    But Germany equalised against the run of play four minutes before halftime when Stindl turned the ball home from close range after Emre Can’s diagonal pass had sent Jonas Hector free on the left to fire a low cross into the middle.

    Germany goalkeeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen then had to make a one-handed save at his near post to block a low drive from 28-year-old Arsenal forward Sanchez just before the break.

    The second half was much quieter with Stindl producing Germany’s best effort, a low shot saved by Johnny Herrera.

     

  • Arsenal launch 2017-18 home kit ahead of new season

    Arsenal launch 2017-18 home kit ahead of new season

     

    Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have given Arsenal fans fresh hope they may stay at the club despite major doubts over their futures, after the duo played a major role in the launch of the new kit.

    The Gunners, who have missed out on Champions League football for the first time in two decades, unveiled their new home shirts during an event at Kings Cross Station on Wednesday morning.

    Club legends Robert Pires and Martin Keown were on hand to unveil the new red home shirts, again manufactured by Puma, but Sanchez and Ozil were both prominent in the kit’s online launch.

    While speculation continues to surround the futures of Arsenal’s star duo, as they both enter the final year of their contracts, they took part in the photoshoot to launch their new look.

    This year’s look includes the Gunners’ iconic red shirts with white sleeves, while the home kit will feature a ‘smart but functional’ collar for the first time since 2006. The collar’s slightly darker red is taken from the club’s crest.

    Arsenal’s famous cannon has been featured on the club’s shirts for 50 years and, to celebrate that milestone, it has been added to reverse of the new home kit, below the collar.

    Bellerin and Giroud will both be looking to help Arsenal return to the Champions League while wearing their new kit

    This is the fourth season of Puma shirts for Arsenal, with main sponsor Fly Emirates featuring again featuring on the front, as it has since 2006.

    Petr Cech also helped launch the club’s new goalkeeper kit, with the Czech stopper’s new outfit including two shades of green, with a lighter tone on the sleeves.

    The event at Kings Cross, described by the club as an ‘activation’, gives fans the chance to have their first look at the new design and have their picture taken alongside the FA Cup, which the club won in May.

    While Sanchez and Ozil have already been pictured in Arsenal’s new shirt, fans and team-mates alike will be hoping the duo are able to take to the field in the new strip when the season begins.

    Sanchez has been linked with Chelsea, Bayern Munich and Manchester City, and has made it clear to his club he has a desire to fight for major silverware as well as £300,000-per-week wage demands.

    The Chilean’s German team-mate, Shkodran Mustafi, is desperate for him to stay at the club: He told Bild: ‘He is an extraordinary player, for me one of the best in the world. I have experienced few players who are as hungry as him.

    ‘As soon as he is on the ball, everyone knows something can happen.’

     

     

     

  • Confederations Cup: Late goals hand Chile 2-0 win over Cameroon

    Confederations Cup: Late goals hand Chile 2-0 win over Cameroon

    Alexis Sanchez came on as a second half substitute to inspire Chile to a 2-0 victory over Cameroon in their opening FIFA Confederations Cup outing on Sunday.

    But he had to share the spotlight with the video assistant referee as the game’s on-field officials had to get a helping hand from their off-field colleagues.

    Sanchez provided the cross for Arturo Vidal to head home their 81st minute opener and he inspired the second goal as well.

    He beat the offside trap, only to fail to score, but Eduardo Vargas was on hand to put the ball into the net in the dying seconds.

    The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) also made an impact as Chile were denied a legitimate looking goal on the stroke of halftime.

    Technology was used again at the end of the match to overturn a linesman’s offside call.

    Vargas had the ball in the net as the match moved into stoppage time at the end of the first half.

    He deftly lifted it over the onrushing Cameroon goalkeeper Fabrice Ondoa after being expertly fed by a defence-splitting pass from Vidal.

    Slovenian referee Damir Skomina initially awarded it but then, more than a minute later, he suddenly reversed the decision on the advice of the VAR, Clement Turpin of France.

    Vargas looked to be millimetres ahead of the last man in a tight call that was hotly contested by the angry Chileans as they headed down the tunnel for the interval.

    But Vargas was on the right side of technology for Chile’s second as Sanchez sprung the offside trap from just inside the Cameroon half.

    The Arsenal forward rounded the goalkeeper, only to have his own effort blocked, but Vargas followed up the rebound only to see the linesman’s flag shoot up.

    But a quick check with the VAR found both Chilean players had been onside and the decision was reversed to confirm a two-goal winning margin

    There was no dispute about Vidal’s goal as he rose above two defenders to power home the ball.

    Sanchez, who had been ruled out of the starting line-up through injury but came in early in the second half, provided the perfect assist.

    The African champions came closest when captain Benjamin Moukandjo hit narrowly wide with a shot from the edge of the penalty area midway through the second half.

  • Sanchez in holiday cruise with his dogs

    Sanchez in holiday cruise with his dogs

     

    Alexis Sanchez has returned to Spain to enjoy some well-earned rest with his dogs while speculation continues to surround his Arsenal future back home in England.

    Sanchez has been continually linked with a move away from the Emirates after the Gunners failed to qualify for the Champions League for the first time in 20 years.

    However, the 28-year-old forward has jetted out on holiday to take a break from football just days after helping the club claim the FA Cup in the final game of the season.

    The Chilean, who spent three seasons playing for Barcelona, returned to Spain this week to enjoy some time in the sun alongside two of his best friends – his golden retrievers, Atom and Humber.

    Sanchez has become famous for his displays of affection for his dogs and regularly posts pictures of the pair to the Instagram page he set up for them last August.

    He took to social media once again on Thursday to post a picture of the dogs relaxing on the deck of a boat, with one of the canines wearing his sunglasses.

    The Chile international also recorded a video of himself kissing one of his dogs in front of a swimming pool in idyllic conditions.

    Sanchez has stalled on a new contract with the Gunners and is thought to be holding out for a deal worth £300,000 a week.

    Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Manchester City have all been linked with the striker, who scored 30 goals in all competitions for Arsenal last season.

  • I fear becoming a nobody – Sanchez

    I fear becoming a nobody – Sanchez

     

     

    Arsenal forward Alexis Sanchez says the fear of becoming a “nobody” in football inspires him to fight for success in his career

    The 28-year-old has won league titles with Colo-Colo, River Plate and Barcelona, as well as two Copa America with Chile, though he has lifted only one FA Cup and two Community Shields since joining the Gunners in 2014.

    Manager Arsene Wenger has insisted Sanchez wants to stay at the club, despite speculation linking him with a lucrative move to Premier League leaders Chelsea at the end of the season.

    But Sanchez has suggested he could be tempted to leave Emirates Stadium if he becomes concerned Arsenal are sliding into obscurity.

    “Looking at everything I’ve done in my career as a footballer, at all the titles, I believe that what’s hugely important is motivation,” he told Arsenal Player. “If a footballer is well motivated and has various things to motivate him every day, he will keep achieving his goals.

    “In my case my life has changed and improved because different things have motivated me. For example, in the beginning my motivation was to help my family. Later on, my motivation was to be the best.

    “It’s the joy you get from your family and from those close to you that motivates you. That gives you the push you need to get better.

    “So even if a match has gone badly, you don’t let it get to you and you move forward. As a footballer, everything you’ve achieved can easily be lost and then you are nobody. That’s just how life is and that’s why you shouldn’t let things get you down. That’s the reason I treat every match like a final.

    “I try to do that in every game – to give 100 per cent. Life is like a set of scales. One minute you can be right up there and the next really low.

    “It’s important to try to maintain a sense of balance and that’s down to the individual.”

  • Ozil inspires Arsenal victory over West Ham

    Ozil inspires Arsenal victory over West Ham

    Mesut Ozil on Wednesday inspired Arsenal to a resounding 3-0 victory over West Ham in a midweek English Premier League (EPL) encounter at the Emirates Stadium.

    The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Arsenal boosted their Champions League hopes with a deserved victory over West Ham, who are in relegation trouble after a fifth consecutive Premier League defeat.

    After a quiet first half, Ozil, on his 150th appearance for the Gunners, fired home from the edge of the box after being gifted possession by Jose Fonte.

    Then the German, after playing a one-two with Alexis Sanchez, crossed for Theo Walcott – captain for the day in the absence of the injured Laurent Koscielny – to turn home from eight yards out.

    This was before substitute Olivier Giroud curled in a fantastic third after being picked out by fellow substitute Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

    The Gunners had only won one and drawn another in their past six Premier League games, to leave their hopes of Champions League qualification – having reached the last 17 tournaments – in real jeopardy.

    There were more protests against long-serving manager Arsene Wenger – with some Gunners fans not taking their seats until the 13th minute. It has been 13 years since they last won the league.

    But the protest did not distract the team too much, admittedly against an opposition in even worse form than themselves.

    Arsenal had the best of the first half, but it was after the break they took control of the game.

    Hammers keeper Darren Randolph was unhappy with Ozil’s opener as he felt Sanchez was offside and blocking his view, but referee Martin Atkinson dismissed  his appeals.

    The two Gunners stars both linked up to set up Walcott’s second, and then Giroud scored the game’s outstanding goal to clinch the match.

    The French striker, who replaced Danny Welbeck, has scored five times as a substitute in the  Premier League, a record unmatched  this season.

    Arsenal should have had a penalty in injury time when Sam Byram brought down Nacho Monreal.

    In other EPL matches also played today (Wednesday), Chelsea maintained their seven-point lead at the top of the Premier League table as two Eden Hazard goals saw off Manchester City.

    Sergio Aguero however pulled a goal back for City to make it 2-1 at the end of a pulsating encounter at Stamford Bridge.

    Tottenham produced a sensational late turnaround to beat a stubborn Swansea side 3-1 and keep intact their aspirations of winning a first Premier League title.

    Also, Joshua King scored a dramatic late equaliser for Bournemouth as Liverpool were held 2-2, dropping two crucial points at Anfield.

  • Sanchez attends unveiling of his statue

    Sanchez attends unveiling of his statue

     

    Alexis Sanchez might not be the most popular figure at Arsenal at the moment, but he remains the centre of attention for the all the right reasons in Chile.

    The Gunners forward, who is expected to leave the Emirates after turning down a lucrative new contract, returned to his home city of Tocopilla to help unveil a statue of himself on Friday.

    A large crowd turned out to see Sanchez cut a ribbon as the colorful effigy of him wearing a full Chile kit was revealed to the public.

    As well as the statue of Sanchez himself, a large Arsenal crest and those of his former clubs are displayed on either side. A sculpture of the Copa America trophy Chile won in 2015 also sits proudly at the front.

    The unveiling went ahead despite vandals damaging the crest of Chilean side Colo Colo, where Sanchez spent the 2006-07 season on loan.

    The 28-year-old also posed with Hollywood Walk of Fame-style handprints and footprints.

    According to reports, Sanchez wrote this message to sit alongside his handprints: ‘Never feel sad because someone tells you [that] you can’t do something in your life. If you have a dream you have to protect it.’

    Sanchez only attended the unveiling for a short time, but he appeared in a far better mood after throwing a tantrum during Chile’s 1-0 defeat by Argentina on Thursday.

    The former Barcelona man was pictured shouting and tugging at his shirt during the World Cup qualifier, which saw Lionel Messi score the only goal from the penalty spot.

    Chile now sit sixth in the South American qualifying table, one point off an automatic spot for the 2018 tournament in Russia

  • Alexis Sanchez can’t wait for Neymar showdown

    Alexis Sanchez can’t wait for Neymar showdown

    Chile star Alexis Sanchez is relishing the opportunity of taking on Neymar when the Copa America hosts meet Brazil at Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium.

    The South American rivals go head-to-head in a Brasil Global Tour friendly international at Alexis’ club home in London on Sunday, March 29.

    The match is the first meeting between the two teams since their World Cup 2014 last-16 clash, which Brazil edged on penalties following an action-packed 1-1 draw.

    And Alexis, who made the move to Arsenal from Barcelona last summer, is eagerly anticipating the showpiece and the reunion with his former Camp Nou colleague.

    “I’m so excited and honoured to be playing for the national team of Chile, against our great rivals Brazil, in front of the incredible Arsenal fans at Emirates Stadium,” Alexis told his club’s official website.

    “I also look forward to playing against my good friend Neymar and welcoming him and the rest of the Brazil team to Emirates Stadium in March.

    “Matches between Brazil and Chile are always exciting encounters, and for me, to play this game at Emirates Stadium will make the match even more special.”

    Ticket Prices from £15 concessions and £30 for adults. Tickets will go on General Sale at 3pm on Friday, February 6, 2015 (booking fees apply).

    For full ticket details, including price categories, please visit the Arsenal website.