The 23-year-old has made 12 starts for the Gunners in the Premier League this season.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger (Photo: AFP)
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger stressed that he wants to keep Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the club, according to a statement made on the club website (www.arsenal.com).
Santi Cazorla’s injury has given Oxlade-Chamberlain a chance to play regularly and he has looked impressive in centre midfield, breaking at speed with the ball and setting up teammates on multiple occasions.
“I personally think it is vital that Chamberlain stays at Arsenal,” Wenger said, adding “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.”
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Cazorla will return next season and, with Aaron Ramsey, Mohamed Elneny, Francis Coquelin, Granit Xhaka and Jack Wilshere at the club, Wenger has plenty of central midfield options. But he believes Oxlade-Chamberlain has a future there.
“I think so,” Wenger asserted. “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.”
The 23-year-old has made 12 starts for the Gunners in the Premier League and has scored 2 goals and notched 5 assists this season.
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