WENGER BOYS ARE BRIT SPECIAL

ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger believes Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will be the club’s bedrock for the next 10 years.

He also welcomes the return to full fitness of ‘complete player’ Aaron Ramsey and hopes he can be the Gunners’ FA Cup talisman again when they meet Manchester City at Wembley in today’s semi-final.

Arsenal were 2-0 down to Hull in the 2014 final but fought back to force extra-time, with Welshman Ramsey grabbing the winner to end a nine-year trophy drought at The Emirates.

And Wenger, who believes British players should be the backbone of the club, said: “If Ramsey and Chamberlain don’t want it, that would be a huge disappointment.

“These guys have to take charge of what we have built and the values of the club. We are a club that are admired for that.

“We have supporters all over the world because of the values this club represents.

“It’s not only the trophies we win that are important. It’s also about the way you behave, the TONY STENSON way you think. The core of this club should be British players.

“Players integrating the values of the club is the most important. It’s more natural for players like Ramsey and Chamberlain.”

Wenger vividly remembers TWO GUN SALUTE: OxladeChamberlain (left) and Ramsey Ramsey’s 2014 final heroics and said: “He is a Frank Lampard type. He is getting in the box and has a huge capacity to run. His combination of stamina, power and his capacity to repeat high intensity is the best in the league.

“For Aaron this season has been very frustrating. He has started something like seven games in the Premier League.

“The reason behind that is injuries – and not big ones. But every time niggling. When he came back – boom, a little calf, or boom, a little hamstring.

“I hope he can now have a strong end to the season because he is an important player. A key player in Arsenal’s future.”

And Wenger is also keen for England winger Oxlade-Chamberlain to pledge his future to the Gunners.

The Frenchman said: “Ox looks like he is on an upward curve. He has had little problems but now he’s getting stability and more freedom to play.

“It’s part of the natural development, the level of expectation is very high because he’s a big talent.

“He is a big player.” PAUL HETHERINGTON