Why Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain simply must leave Arsenal this summer

Photo: Charlotte Wilson

Arsenal crashed out of the Champions League on Tuesday night following an embarrassing 10-2 aggregate defeat to German champions Bayern Munich.

Arsene Wenger’s side had it all to do after losing 5-1 at the Allianz Arena in the first leg three weeks ago, although Theo Walcott’s strike gave them a glimmer of hope in the first half at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday.

However, that hope was short-lived as Laurent Koscielny was given a red card eight minutes into the second half, and from then on the floodgates opened, with Robert Lewandowski converting the resulting penalty, and then goals from Arjen Robben, Douglas Costa, and a brace from Arturo Vidal inflicting further misery on the Gunners.

Unsurprisingly, that defeat has once again called into question Wenger’s future as manager, but it has also increased speculation about who might want out of the Emirates come the summer.

And one man who reportedly is ready to look elsewhere is midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

The England international has made 22 Premier League appearances this season, but half of those have come off the bench, and although he has started their last few games, he’s still not nailed down a regular starting berth.

Thus, the 23-year-old could look to move on in the summer, and here are THREE reasons why he simply has to quit Arsenal in the upcoming transfer window…

Needs regular gametime

Quite simply, Oxlade-Chamberlain needs to be playing more football.

The 23-year-old has made 22 Premier League appearances for Arsenal this season, but half of those have been from the bench, and with just four starts in their ill-fated Champions League campaign as well, it’s clear that he’s not nailed down a place in Wenger’s starting eleven.

A few more starts in recent weeks will certainly have pleased the England star, but you sense that once the likes of Mohamed Elneny and Francis Coquelin near full fitness, he’ll be back amongst the substitutes.

Clearly, he is not playing enough at Arsenal, and thus should seek a move elsewhere in the summer.

Left out of last England squad

Photo: Mark Leech

Oxlade-Chamberlain made his England debut all the way back in 2012 just before the European Championships, and his displays in that tournament and in the few years that followed indicated that he was a player for the future.

However, it hasn’t quite worked out like that for the 23-year-old who, albeit hindered by injury, didn’t make Roy Hodgson’s Euro 2016 squad, and was also left out of Gareth Southgate’s most recent squad for the games against Scotland and Spain in November.

In fact, Oxlade-Chamberlain didn’t appear once for England in 2016, and although he made Southgate’s first squad back in October, he didn’t feature then either.

Clearly, his lack of first team football is hindering his chances of nailing down a place in the England team, which will be of disappointment to many English fans who saw Oxlade-Chamberlain make quite the impact back in 2012.

Thus, a move may be necessary to get his international career up and running once again.

He’d have plenty of suitors

There’s no doubting Oxlade-Chamberlain’s ability, be it as a winger running at defenders or as a central midfielder controlling the tempo of the game.

And while he may not be first choice at Arsenal, he’d certainly have plenty of suitors should he desire to leave the Emirates this summer.

Recent reports have linked both Manchester clubs with the 23-year-old which, with City boss Pep Guardiola wanting more English players in his squad, as well as Red Devils manager Jose Mourinho looking to bolster his midfield options ahead of next season, could work for Oxlade-Chamberlain, who’d likely get more playing time at both clubs.

And, with former club Southampton, where Oxlade-Chamberlain began his career, also reportedly having shown an interest last summer, it’s clear that the England star would have plenty of suitors, which must make the decision to leave the Emirates even more clear cut.

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