WENGER WANTS TO TIE DOWN THE OX
Alex deal is a priority
ARSENE WENGER is desperate to tie down Alex OxladeChamberlain to a new deal.
Doubts over the futures of contract rebels Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have been the big talking points over Arsenal.
But there is also a big question mark over Oxlade-Chamberlain, 23, with just 14 months left on his current deal.
‘The Ox’ is among a crop of homegrown stars heading into the final year of their contracts from next season.
And Wenger says tying down OxladeChamberlain – who is attracting interest from Manchester City – must also take on critical importance at the Emirates.
The Gunners boss said: “I personally think it is vital that Chamberlain stays at Arsenal.
“We bought him when he was very young, we have built him up and I think he has a great mentality.
“I like his mentality and he has a good football brain. It would be a big damage for us to lose this kind of player.
“In an inflationary market we have to consider the situation as a whole. We have to dedicate the money for everybody.
“We still have a group of young British players and we have to keep them all.
“We have Chamberlain, Aaron Ramsey, Jack Wilshere and Kieran ® Gibbs. All these players we have to make decisions and manage to keep them together.” Oxlade-Chamberlain is set to take centre stage once again for Arsenal at Crystal Palace tonight. Wenger has shifted the England international from the flanks to a central midfield spot with mixed results. But he is set to stay there on a permanent basis with Wenger adding: “I feel 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. In the long-term I think this will be best. “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.” Arsenal are playing catch-up in the Champions League race and Wenger knows the importance of Selhurst Park success tonight. The Frenchman added: “The difference between the teams has become shorter and smaller, so anything can happen in any game. And we know we have to play at our best to win the game.”