Arsenal Must Keep Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

The future of Arsenal’s match-winner at Wembley, Alexis Sanchez, is a subject of regular discussion. Every goal is accompanied by speculation about the sums it will require for him to remain in north London.

However, the man of the match against Manchester City, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, is in an identical contractual situation. Like the Chilean, he has just over 12 months remaining on his deal, yet there have been no such stories about Arsenal making overtures to keep him. After another outstanding display, it’s time The Ox’s fate was pushed higher up Arsenal’s agenda. Based on his current form, he needs to stay at the Emirates.

The most recent talk has been that Oxlade-Chamberlain is headed for a £35 million switch to Liverpool. If that move came to pass, it would be a major blow to Arsenal. The Gunners have invested six years in Oxlade-Chamberlain’s development — for him to defect now, just as he’s threatening to fulfil his enormous potential, would be disastrous.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was outstanding at Wembley. He showed impressive defensive discipline, as well as being Arsenal’s most effective outlet on the break. It was also his deep cross which found Nacho Monreal at the far post for the crucial equaliser. When Arsene Wenger made the switch to a 3-4-3 system, most onlookers expected Hector Bellerin to assume the right-wing back position. Instead, with the Spaniard short of form and fitness, Oxlade-Chamberlain who has filled that berth, excelling in a new role.

This has, overall, been Oxlade-Chamberlain’s best season in an Arsenal shirt. In the first half of the campaign, he operated primarily in the attacking third of the field, answering criticisms of his end product with a number of vital goals and assists. In recent months, he’s been deployed in deeper roles, initially in central midfield and recently as a wing-back. That’s shown another side of his game: an ability to build play from the back, and use his athleticism to instigate counterattacks.

Wenger often hoped to harness Jack Wilshere’s combination of skill and power to help Arsenal break through the lines in their own half. That ship appears to have sailed, but Oxlade-Chamberlain offers similar promise.

Wenger insists the club hope to keep him. Speaking prior to the semi-final win, he said: “I personally think it’s vital that Oxlade-Chamberlain stays at Arsenal. We have bought him when he was very young, and we have built him up. I like his mentality, and he has a good football brain. I think it would be a big damage for us to lose this kind of player.”

Now Arsenal need to follow through on Wenger’s statement and make Oxlade-Chamberlain feel wanted. While there’s an obvious value in retaining a star like Sanchez, it’s also important for Arsenal to keep those players who feel a certain affinity for the club.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has grown up at Arsenal — it’s a club he chose above various suitors because he identified with the philosophy and the approach. He’s schooled in Arsenal values, and in theory should be helping maintain those long beyond Sanchez’s seemingly inevitable departure.

It’s telling that it was Oxlade-Chamberlain who came forward after the Middlesbrough gameto take responsibility for recent poor performances and praise the travelling fans. At Wembley, the supporters were at the forefront of his mind once again: “Our league form has not been good enough and obviously, we’re disappointed with how that’s gone, and this was something that we could hold on to for the fans. It was important that we got to the final — we’ve given ourselves every opportunity to go and win now.

“That’s what we wanted to do. I’m delighted for all the boys and the fans of the club.”

Sometimes it’s possible to view those kinds of quotes cynically. However, Oxlade-Chamberlain has done his talking on the pitch too. He’s raised his game at a time when the team has desperately needed it, emerging as a leader and showing his commitment to the cause.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s words have been matched by his deeds. Now it’s up to Arsenal to do the same. They say they want to keep him — time for them to prove it.