Towards the end of a drab match between Arsenal and Leicester City at the Emirates on Wednesday night, Christian Fuchs picked up the ball to take a throw-in. Alexis Sánchez, a toughened street footballer who grew up in a hard mining town in Chile where he used to wash cars, perform somersaults and box in the street to earn a few coins from impressed onlookers, stood in front of Fuchs. The Leicester player flung the ball at Sánchez, hitting him on the shoulder. The Arsenal player stood still for a few seconds, perhaps dazed or perhaps wondering how he could manipulate the situation to his team’s advantage, and then he fell over – clutching his face.
The referee did not take too kindly to his histrionics and booked Sánchez for standing too close to the sideline. Arsène Wenger thought Fuchs was the wrongdoer, saying he “was lucky not to get a yellow card because he threw the ball at him on purpose.” Wenger had a point but the internet had little sympathy with Sánchez’s “injury”.
The source of ‘the injury’
Sanchez’s swollen lip
Feliz por la victoria pero termine con el labio hinchado 😂😢happy for the victory but ended up with a swollen lip 😂😂👍🏼⚽️ pic.twitter.com/0y301Ztnp9
— Alexis Sánchez (@Alexis_Sanchez) April 26, 2017
A medical explanation
There's possibility that ball hit a nerve on his shoulder which then sent message to brain....to act like a pudding. https://t.co/SkuA6tXk1v
— Gabby Logan (@GabbyLogan) April 26, 2017
The boxer’s reaction
Wind it in. You're embarrassing yourself fella https://t.co/sPX1akgXEj
— Carl Frampton MBE (@RealCFrampton) April 26, 2017
The case for the defence
🎥: Alexis gets booked for getting hit with the ball intentionally from Fuchs' throw-in. 🤔 pic.twitter.com/34qBVt1aR5
— afcvideo (@afcvideo) April 26, 2017
The inspiration?
Sanchez went down like Rivaldo pic.twitter.com/lNzXrIZjLv
— - (@ChriisBaker) April 26, 2017
A man who knows about being embarrassed
David Seaman was NOT happy with Alexis Sanchez after last night's incident with Christian Fuchs... #Arsenal #LCFC pic.twitter.com/7llnOzzpCf
— Alan Brazil (@SportsBreakfast) April 27, 2017
