Wenger: Oxlade-Chamberlain has future at Arsenal
Speculation has been mounting in recent weeks that England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be shipped out of the Emirates this summer, but Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has dismissed the notion.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has just 15 months to run on his current contract in north London and has attracted the interest in recent months from the likes of Premier League rivals Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City.
Wenger, who is expected to put pen-to-paper on a new two-year deal at the Emirates imminently, has been urged to complete a major overhaul of the club’s playing staff this summer, with Oxlade-Chamberlain thought to be vulnerable.
Despite moving into a central midfield role in the second half of the season, Oxlade-Chamberlain has once again been a peripheral figure at the Emirates this season but Wenger insists the England man is central to Arsenal’s long-term planning.
Santi Cazorla will return next season and, with Aaron Ramsey, Mohamed Elneny, Francis Coquelin, Granit Xhaka and Jack Wilshere also at the club – Oxlade-Chamberlain faces a battle to make his mark centrally.
“I personally think it is vital that Chamberlain stays at Arsenal,” said Wenger. “We bought him when he was very young, we have built him up and I think he has a great mentality and a good football brain. It would be a big damage for us to lose this kind of player.
“He can lose balls but defensively he is strong in the challenge when he wants to switch on. He has that kind of robustness to deal with body-to-body which is very important in the Premier League.
“When I didn’t play Ozil I had to find a combination with Alex in central midfield. He is offensive and you can see as well he is a guy who can get out of pressure. He has a dribbling skill and acceleration that can get you out of pressure.
“He can penetrate, and in midfield that is important. I felt as well sometimes on the flank he is out of the game but in the middle he is more focused. He needs to be involved in the game.”
