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Arsene Wenger showed the sort of passion that was missing from Arsenal ’s lame surrender at Anfield when he met his coaching staff this week.

Boss Wenger was fuming at the training-ground inquest into what had gone wrong 24 hours earlier.

According to insiders, the meeting got “very heated”. The manager was furious about the abject nature of Sunday's defeat — it was 4-0 but Liverpool could have scored twice as many — and it left him questioning the attitude of every player.

What quickly became very clear was that Wenger was not prepared to stomach any player who was not fully committed to the cause.

And the biggest question mark of all was about Alexis Sanchez after his performance in the defeat at Liverpool.

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Sanchez was nowhere near match-fit for his first start of the season, but there was doubt over whether his mind was elsewhere as the dismal defeat unfolded or if he was just ring-rusty.

From the position of defiance the club has held all summer, Arsenal are at the very least now thinking about the possibility of cashing in on Sanchez now rather than potentially losing him for nothing when his contract expires at the end of the season.

It would still take a mega-offer to tempt them though, because some weeks ago an agreement was struck with Sanchez and his advisers.

They reached a pact that the Chilean striker would stay, see out the final year of his contract and then not agitate to move unless a ridiculous offer came in.

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Sanchez made it clear he will not sign a new deal but Arsenal believe that the cost of selling him would be greater than the profit gained, unless it was for crazy money.

After all, the 28-year-old could be the difference between getting a top four place or not. That is £30m, straight away.

His goals and assists made him priceless to Arsenal last season.

But baggage comes with Sanchez.

There often does with big stars and their egos. They know they are special, can be temperamental, selfish divas and, at times, disruptive.

Some of the other players do not like him, they think he inhibits and damages the team ethic and dressing room spirit.

(Image: Action Images via Reuters) (Image: Getty) (Image: Action Images via Reuters)

It’s all about him rather than the team.

Sanchez can be difficult to handle in training, sulk on the pitch and throw a strop if he is substituted.

On one occasion, he was hooked late on and, by the time the game was finished and everyone else came into the dressing room, he was showered, changed and gone.

But try explaining that to a baying mob of fans after the defeat at Liverpool.

Selling Sanchez, Arsenal’s best player, to a rival after insisting all summer that he would not be leaving.

The fact that Manchester City are the only club in the market makes it even more difficult.

Wenger has been adamant all summer that Sanchez would not be sold. The same for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain .

But there is no doubt Oxlade-Chamberlain insisting he will not re-sign, coupled with his performance at Anfield, changed Wenger’s mind.

In the meeting, the Frenchman made it clear that if he wants to go then he'll let him. That is why Chelsea’s bid was accepted on Monday.

It was the same for a few others.

If there are deals to be done on the likes of defender Shkodran Mustafi — an expensive £34m mistake last summer — then ship them out and replace them.

That is why they have enquired about West Brom’s Jonny Evans .

It may be too late now, but the anger was there for all to see.

Wenger rarely gets irate, even after a bad defeat. He keeps his powder dry until after he has collected his thoughts.

But the veteran boss is clearly feeling the heat himself.

He knows he is not bombproof, even after signing a new two year contract. He must deliver results and the pressure is rising after a poor start.

And he faces a major dilemma now on Sanchez.

If a £70m offer comes in then Arsenal would likely sell. City know the price.

The Gunners could not get a replacement in quickly though, and other clubs would see them coming a mile off with cash to spend.

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But if City are prepared to put Raheem Sterling into a player-plus-cash deal then it may be what Arsenal need to tempt them into doing business.

Because if for a moment they think anyone is not fully committed - and the defeat at Liverpool raised doubts about a few - then Wenger would sooner sell up, ship out and find some players who share his passion for the club.