Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has backed winger Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain amid after speculation arose that he could leave the club in the near future.
Speaking on Sky Sports’ Goals on Sunday programme recently the former Southampton man suggested that he may have to leave The Emirates in order to gain more first-team game time and progress his career.
However, his boss has assured him that he still has a place at the club. When pressed on the issue of the England international’s future, Wenger said:
“He didn’t say that. He said he will consider the situation at the end of the season. That is completely different.
“I can understand, but on the other hand, you buy a young player at 17 years of age, you spend a lot of money, then you would like him to stay at the club,” he added.
Fellow Saints academy graduate, Theo Walcott, has been in and out of the side for years and is finally hitting a strong and consistent vein of form at the club.
Walcott’s situation may be behind Wenger’s continued support for the 23-year-old. The former Monaco boss added:
“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 he has been similar to Walcott. He has not got rewarded yet. But he is in a similar position because he has worked really hard.”
Chamberlain was handed another chance against Bulgarian side Ludogorets on Wednesday and he got his name on the score sheet in their 6-0 win.