Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is enjoying his best season in an Arsenal shirt, but still remains in-and-out of Arsene Wenger’s first-team plans. The former Southampton youth product has one year left on his current contract with our club, and Liverpool are linked with a strong interest in signing him.
We are playing a dangerous game with the futures of a number of players, with no new deals having been agreed for Mesut Ozil, Jack Wilshere, Alexis Sanchez and Aaron Ramsey all joining the Ox with only a year remaining.
Ramsey praised his fellow midfield star this week, and I can’t help but get increasingly worried about our chances of keeping Chamberlain as time goes by…
“Chambo has had a good season, it’s been his best scoring-wise, and he’s played in a few positions,” Ramsey said.
“Chambo is a big threat going forward, he’s very explosive and quick off the mark, he can go past players with ease and his final ball in has been very good – he’s had quite a few assists this year.
“He seems to have really kicked on this year, so he’s only going to get better and better.”
The Ox has played in range of positions this term, including as a right-back, right wing-back, central midfielder and attacking midfielder, and has thoroughly impressed in each of those positions.
Chamberlain spent the majority of his previous campaigns as a winger, but is now believed to be destined to hold down a central midfield berth in the near future.
He is currently sidelined with injury, but Hector Bellerin will likely hold on to his position at wing-back, and Granit Xhaka and Aaron Ramsey are flourishing in our new 3-4-2-1 system, and the Ox may well believe that he could be falling behind in the pecking order once again, a prospect which may make his consider his future, especially with just 12 months left on his current contract.
Is Chamberlain finally meeting his full potential? Does he deserve to be a regular in the first-team? Do you think he is likely to leave the club?
Pat J