Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger yesterday downplayed Chilean star Alexis Sanchez’ moody behaviour during and after the 3-3 Premier League draw with Bournemouth saying it was natural at his being frustrated.
The 28-year-old forward — who is holding off from signing a new contract — had a heated discussion with midfielder Aaron Ramsey during Tuesday’s game and then flung his gloves to the ground and stormed off down the tunnel after the Gunners had come back from 3-0 down.
Several newspapers reported yesterday that Sanchez — who scored Arsenal’s opening goal — had then refused to speak to his team-mates and sat sulking in the dressing room. “Well, what is surprising there?,” said Wenger, responding to a question about Sanchez’ negative body language.
“You want to win the games and when you don’t win, you are unhappy — it is normal. Without passion, you do not come back after 70 minutes from three goals down in the Premier League. First of all it is exceptional, it doesn’t often happen in the Premier League and you need a special response, which is what happened. We wanted to win the game, and we didn’t win the game so we are all frustrated. Of course (he is fine),” added the Frenchman, whose side are fifth in the table eight points adrift of leaders Chelsea.
Sanchez at least has a weekend off as Wenger said he would rest him and German midfielder Mesut Ozil, who is also holding off on signing a new contract, for the third round FA Cup tie with second tier Preston North End tomorrow.
Wenger said French midfielder Francis Coquelin faces a month on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.
The 25-year-old — who has been at the Gunners for eight years spending part of that time out on loan — suffered the injury in the first-half against Bournemouth. Wenger, who revealed Spanish striker Lucas Perez had taken a knock to his ankle in the same game, said the prognosis was he would be out for three to four weeks.

Silva named as new manager of struggling Hull
Premier League strugglers Hull City appointed Marco Silva as manager for the rest of the season yesterday. The 39-year-old Portuguese — who guided Olympiakos to the Greek title last term before resigning — replaces Mike Phelan, who was sacked on Tuesday. Silva’s first match in charge of the bottom-placed club will be tomorrow’s  FA Cup third-round tie with fellow relegation battlers Swansea City. Silva first distinguished himself in his home country with Estoril and then coached Sporting Lisbon to a Portuguese Cup victory in 2015 but he was then sacked for not wearing a club suit in the technical area.
He will receive some funds for new players, said Hull vice-chairman Ehab Allam, whose parsimonious approach to the transfer market before the season started saw Steve Bruce walk out.
Silva, a former defender who played just two top-flight matches, will bring with him his own backroom staff, Allam having sacked their predecessors on Wednesday.

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