Arsenal: Potential 2017/18 starting XI without Mesut Ozil or Alexis Sanchez

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

I think every Arsenal is in agreement that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has been Arsenal’s best player over the last few weeks. It is imperative that he signs a new long-term contract at the club, and I would even go as far as to say tying down ‘The Ox’ is more important than agreeing to terms with either Ozil or Sanchez.

At this present moment, Oxlade-Chamberlain’s confidence is through the roof. Consecutive starts have done him wonders and I think it would only be right to move him to the central midfield position next season. After all, that is where Arsene Wenger sees him:

"“I think he’s a good flank player and a good central player. But the future, personally, I would say is more central than on the flank for him.”"

I imagine he would fulfil a similar role to Aaron Ramsey; a box-to-box midfielder. I seriously considered deploying the resurgent Englishman at one of the wing-back slots, but the prospect of putting him in midfield where his physical gifts can be fully utilised was too enticing.

Creativity is the one thing lacking in this XI, so the addition of a player such as Gylfi Sigurdsson or Isco could be imperative in the eyes of some.