WENGER LOVES THE OX TO BRITS
Gunners boss insists it’s vital Oxlade-Chamberlain signs new deal to help keep British core
ARSENE WENGER has warned Alex OxladeChamberlain it is “vital” he signs a new contract to keep Arsenal’s British core together.
The Gunners took great pride in what became an iconic club photo taken in December 2012 showing Oxlade-Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere, Kieran Gibbs and Carl Jenkinson all signing new deals.
It was supposed to represent a new direction towards homegrown talent pushing Arsenal to a new era of success. That never materialised and all five now face uncertain futures.
Jenkinson is almost certain to go, Ramsey has struggled to kick on after his early promise and Gibbs and Wilshere have entered contract talks with a very real warning from Wenger that some of them will have to be realistic in their demands.
But it was very clear from the passion and way Wenger spoke that he still regards Oxlade-Chamberlain, 23, as a potential jewel in the crown, a player who has really come to the fore again in the last few months. That has been since Oxlade-Chamberlain, who like Gibbs, Wilshere and Jenkinson has 15 months left on his deal, moved into central midfield – and Wenger is desperate to keep him, despite interest from Liverpool and both Manchester clubs.
He said: “It is vital that Alex stays. We bought him when he was very young, we have built him up and he has a great mentality.
“I played him in central midfield a few times a few years ago and he did well.
He is very offensive and has a dribbling skill and acceleration that can get you out of pressure.
“He can penetrate. In midfield that is important. I felt on the flank he can be out of the game, but in the middle he is more focused.
“He can lose balls, but defensively is strong in the challenge. And he has that robustness to deal with body-to-body which is very important here.”
Wenger warned he may have to be “ruthless” when offering new deals to his other British stars.
Wilshere is having talks, but Arsenal face a big decision on what level of deal to offer him, while they also face similar dilemmas with Gibbs and Ramsey.
Wenger added: “We still have a group of British players. We have to make decisions and manage to keep them together.”