Arsenal face a huge summer ahead of them, with the Gunners needing to rebuild their side after a disappointing campaign in the Premier League this term and at risk of losing several big-name players.
The Gunners have allowed the contracts of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Kieran Gibbs and Jack Wilshere approach their final years and all four players have arguments to suggest they should leave, especially if Arsenal fail to secure a position in the Champions League.
On top of that, the back pages this season have regularly linked an array of Arsenal player’s away from the Emirates Stadium this summer with David Ospina, Olivier Giroud and Lucas Perez just a few of the players reportedly considering their future.
Fortunately for Arsenal, barring Alexis and Ozil, all of the aforementioned players are replaceable in the squad and are hardly established as regulars in the first-team. However, the same cannot be said for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.
‘The Ox’ has been linked with a big money move to Manchester City and Liverpool this summer, with many happy to allow an exit as they see a player who has failed to live-up to his potential during the six-years he’s spent at Arsenal.
In reality, the 23-year-old is yet to really enjoy a ‘breakthrough’ season at Arsenal due to a wealth of injury problems- but that situation has been turned on it’s head this season.
During six-years at Arsenal, Oxlade-Chamberlain has made just 62 Premier League starts- 14 of which have come this season. Whilst that number isn’t exactly high, 13 further appearances off the bench take his tally to 27 Premier League appearances- the most he’s ever secured at Arsenal.
At this stage of the Premier League campaign, Oxlade-Chamberlain has played 1455 minutes of football, his second-best return since playing 1492 minutes during the 2014/15 season- and it’s likely he’ll surpass that figure in the final month of the season.
Oxlade-Chamberlain’s statistics have also improved, as the England international boasts five assists in the Premier League this season; having entered the campaign with a grand total of six across the last four seasons.
In all competitions, Oxlade-Chamberlain is enjoying his best campaign in front of goal, scoring six goals- the same number as his past two seasons combined. Therefore, it’s clear Arsenal have got a player on the rise.
Whilst Oxlade-Chamberlain’s stats this season are nowhere near the same calibre as the big names in the league, which include the likes of Alexis Sanchez and Eden Hazard, Oxlade-Chamberlain offers something that very few Arsenal players can- versatility.
Making his name as a winger at Arsenal, Oxlade-Chamberlain earned plaudits for his displays in a central position earlier this season when the Gunners midfield ranks were seriously depleted by injury and he’s gone on to be the star in Arsenal’s new system.
In the first two games where Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has played at right wing-back he’s been Man of the Match- with his stellar performances including a inch-perfect cross for Nacho Monreal’s equalising goal in the FA Cup semi-final victory over Manchester City.
After six frustrating years at Arsenal where Oxlade-Chamberlain has endured vast injury problems and has also regularly found himself overlooked in the pecking order, ‘the Ox’ has now become a crucial part of the Gunners side and will be eying a starting spot in Gareth Southgate’s World Cup squad next summer.
Oxlade-Chamberlain still has a long way to go to be a superstar but he’s finally enjoying his breakthrough year at Arsenal and losing his services this summer would arguably be one of the worst decisions the Gunners have made in the transfer market during over the course of the last decade.