Arsene Wenger is currently standing in the eye of a perfect storm. Arsenal have taken their famed consistency to absurd lows tonight: following a 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the first-leg with a 5-1 defeat to Bayern Munich in the second leg.
Once again, the turning point was Laurent Koscielny's departure. Arsenal were level at 1-1 when he went off injured in the first half, and tonight he was sent off for giving away penalty, following a push on Robert Lewandowski. At that stage, it was 1-0 to Arsenal. Five goals later, and Arsene Wenger is facing into one of the longest nights in his career.
One of the goals was the fault of Alexis Sanchez: caught dawdling with the ball on the edge of the box by Arjen Robben, with the Dutchman finding the net moments later.
Alexis was subbed off a few minutes later, and sat beside Petr Cech on the bench, the goalkeeper who was conceded 20% of his career goals at Arsenal, was spared any of this misery by dint of Wenger's promise to play Ospina in Europe.
Sanchez is on his way, and then, in what are perhaps the worst optics possible for Wenger, he appeared to laugh on the sideline.
Laughing Sanchez
One of those nights... #AFCvFCB pic.twitter.com/gLBPxyoNge
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) March 7, 2017
Sanchez confirming once and for all what we all think of Arsenal, they are one massive joke. #ARS #Arsenal pic.twitter.com/6z5znuWlUX
— Everything City (@Everything_City) March 7, 2017
The reaction, was, er....
Alexis Sanchez, for all his talent, is a bit of a tool. Try be some way professional, you're paid enough to be. #Arsenal
— Ewan MacKenna (@EwanMacKenna) March 7, 2017
Sanchez must know there'll be cameras on him there. Yes, the defending was objectively hilarious, but come on
— Jack Lang (@jacklang) March 7, 2017
Wait, Alexis Sanchez LAUGHED on the bench? Can't wait for the optics on this one.
— James Tyler (@JamesTylerESPN) March 7, 2017
Arsenal Fans wanted Andre Santos battered after swapping shirts with RVP at HT. For me Sanchez laughing while his team embarrassed worse
— Liam Whelan (@liam11) March 7, 2017
Keown sounds like there's been a death in the family and Sanchez is smirking on the bench. What a night.
— Alex Shaw (@AlexShawESPN) March 7, 2017
Alexis Sanchez is a weasel.
— Nathan Murphy (@nathanmurf) March 7, 2017
Ohhhh dear.
