I’ve been watching the tabloids with something of an interested eye ever since Arsenal drew 3-3 with Bournemouth and they have not disappointed with their balls.

During the game, Alexis was visibly frustrated. Now, we are told, his teammates are worried he is going to leave because he didn’t speak to anyone in the dressing room after the game.

Sun: Alec Shilton 5 Jan, 2017, 7.09am – SANCHEZ FURY Arsenal star Alexis Sanchez sparks exit fears after throwing tantrum following Bournemouth draw (tantrum, really?)

Mirror: John Cross 4 Jan, 2017, 22.30pmFurious Alexis Sanchez didn’t speak to ANYBODY in the dressing room after Arsenal draw with Bournemouth Fresh fears over future of star whose reaction to Tuesday draw was very different to some of his team-mates’ (because, you know, nobody in the history of football has ever been silent in disappointment at a poor result)

Star: Jamie Styles 5 Jan, no time given but cite Mirror as their sourceArsenal star linked with exit: His team-mates already think he’s off SEVERAL Arsenal stars reportedly fear Alexis Sanchez is on his way out of the Emirates.

Express: Dan Gibbs 5 Jan, 00.02Alexis Sanchez furious with Arsenal stars: What really happened after Bournemouth draw ALEXIS SANCHEZ reportedly didn’t speak to anyone after Arsenal’s draw with Bournemouth last night (you can’t say ‘what REALLY happened’ and then go on to say ‘reportedly’ – you either REALLY know or you don’t, Dan)

There are a few things they are conveniently leaving out in order that their ‘narrative’ is not disturbed:

Alexis looks and acts like this ALL the time

The tabloids just don’t seem to bother about it unless the result is a poor one for Arsenal.

Alexis Sanchez
Alexis v Bournemouth [via sun]
Alexis v West Brom (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Alexis v West Brom (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Arsenal won this game 1-0
Alexis v Middlesbrough (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Alexis v Middlesbrough (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Arsenal drew this game 0-0
Alexis v FC Basel (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) Arsenal won the game 2-0
Alexis v FC Basel (Photo by Paul Gilham/Getty Images) Arsenal won the game 2-0
Alexis after losing to Ecuador with Chile (Photo RODRIGO BUENDIA/AFP/Getty Images))
Alexis after losing to Ecuador with Chile (Photo RODRIGO BUENDIA/AFP/Getty Images)
Alexis v PSG (FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images) Arsenal drew the game 1-1
Alexis v PSG (FRANCK FIFE/AFP/Getty Images) Arsenal drew the game 1-1
Alexis v Bolivia (Photo MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/Getty Images) Chile won the game 3-0
Alexis v Bolivia (Photo MARTIN BERNETTI/AFP/Getty Images) Chile won the game 3-0
Alexis v Hull (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images) Arsenal won the game 4-1
Alexis v Hull (Photo by Alex Morton/Getty Images) Arsenal won the game 4-1
Alexis v Barca (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Arsenal lost 2-0
Alexis v Barca (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) Arsenal lost 2-0
Alexis v West Brom last season (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Alexis v West Brom last season (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

In short, the Chilean wears his heart on his sleeve and hates not winning. I could have added a lot more images, but I think you get the point.

I’m fairly sure we’ve had to listen to the tabloids tell us for a decade that Arsenal don’t have enough players who care about winning.

Now we have one, they can’t wait to get him away from the club because he apparently cares too much.

The tabloids have been telling us Alexis is leaving long before we went to Bournemouth.

Wage demands, Arsenal’s form, Arsenal’s wage cap, money from China and trophies are all reasons that have been given as why Alexis could/will quit Arsenal.

Parts of the press constantly bang on that Arsenal need to buy world class players. When we do, they seem to spend the rest of the time trying to hound them out of Arsenal or force fans to believe that the club is doing the player ‘wrong’ in some fashion.

I was told once that the tabloids all have little chinwags about what they are going to cover and what ‘narratives’ they will take. I don’t know how true this is as I’m not in any of their inner circles, but it’s hard to look at a series of articles with headlines all so similar and not think there is some sort of co-ordinated attack underway.

The source for all these pieces seems to be John Cross and while I don’t doubt he has a few ‘insider’ contacts (it would be nearly impossible to be in the industry for decades, at Arsenal almost weekly and not pick up a contact or two) it’s important that you keep another few things in mind:

  • John Cross, despite his reputation as an Arsenal ‘expert’, is not, and often gets his information from other papers and websites.
  • A player unhappy at a poor performance is what you want, isn’t it? Isn’t that the winning mentality we are supposed to be lacking at Arsenal?

Make up your mind…