Wenger hopeful Alex will stay and follow in Theo’s footsteps

ARSENE WENGER has told Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain he can replicate Theo Walcott’s brilliant resurgence if he ignores any temptation to leave Arsenal. The 23-year-old said at the weekend that he may consider his future this summer given his lack of playing time, which has so far amounted to only three Premier League starts this season. With only 18 months left on his contract, those comments have taken on a degree of urgency, but Wenger spelt out his desire to keep the player. That will likely be reinforced with a starting role against Ludogorets in the Champions League tonight, but the greater test will be in how Oxlade-Chamberlain is used in bigger games. It’s a situation Wenger needs to manage, though he made a reasonable case for patience yesterday in flagging up the example of Walcott, considering how the 27-year-old has excelled in this campaign after numerous doubts over his own playing time. The Arsenal manager has been stunned by Walcott’s efforts in training following a conversation with the winger in the summer, and has seen similar application from Oxlade-Chamberlain after the knee injury that kept him out of Euro 2016. ‘He said he will consider the situation at the end of the season,’ said Wenger. ‘That is completely different (to saying he might have to leave). ‘I think his place is here. We like him. I personally rate him

as a player and I hope that he will show that he can have a stable position in the team until the end of the season. ‘This season, I think he has been similar to Walcott. He has not got rewarded yet. But he is in a similar position because he has worked hard.’ Oxlade-Chamberlain’s contract situation is one of a number of background issues for Wenger, with Arsenal and Mesut Ozil still some way apart in negotiations on an extension beyond 2018. Alexis Sanchez is also out of contract that summer, along with Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs. Santi Cazorla’s deal is up next June. ‘Do the club meet their needs on the football front and, if “yes”, then a Premier League club can find an agreement with the players,’ continued Wenger. ‘We still keep values we have at the club — we pay what we can afford to pay.’ Arsenal are chasing a seventh straight win in all competitions against Ludogorets and could tie up qualification from Group A in their subsequent match, which is the return fixture with the Bulgarians. Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud are closing in on fitness but are not yet ready to play.