Arsenal: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlaim Departure More Damaging Than Stars

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is interesting Manchester United. His departure would be far more damaging for Arsenal than the exit of many other stars.

Arsene Wenger has a set of ideals that he unwaveringly sticks to, no matter what criticism he may face for holding them or the issues that they may create, even within the team. Arsenal is a club that has been built in his image and, as a result, embodies many of the qualities that Wenger instigates.

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One of those qualities is trusting his process of acquiring and developing young players, standing by them through their nurturing stage and believing in their qualities, even through their natural ups and downs as talented youngsters.

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That ideal has cultivated an atmosphere of loyalty. Unlike many other clubs in the Premier League and across the continent, Arsenal have a continuity within their squad and their coaching that few else can match. That stems from the management style of Wenger. If someone were to buck the trend, it would be extremely damaging for Wenger.

For many years, the types of players that have wanted to leave North London are the established, esteemed stars, not the ones who have been heavily invested by Wenger and owe their careers to him. However, in recent weeks, there have been significant rumours linking Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain with a move away from the Emirates, with Manchester United now touted as a possible destination.

It is a surprising development, one that has been unexpectedly brewing throughout the season. Two departures that have garnered more attention are Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. The two have both delayed contract talks on numerous occasions, before the start of the year and during it, there is growing interest from many clubs around Europe and Sanchez, in particular, has visibly become increasingly frustrated with life at the Emirates.

Nonetheless, their exits are to be expected. It would, in fact, be a surprise to see either remain with the club beyond the summer, especially if, as predicted, Wenger remains as manager. Chamberlain’s exit, though, would not have been predicted even two or three weeks ago. Now, his Arsenal future is much more in the balance.

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While Sanchez and Ozil may well be better players than Chamberlain, it would be the latter’s departure that would be more damaging for the club, primarily because of the contradiction it offers to Wenger’s entrenched values.