Arsenal: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain contract must only be the start

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is reportedly close to signing a new £100,000-a-week contract. If true, his re-signing must only be the start of an extremely busy summer for Arsenal and Arsene Wenger.

Perhaps more than any summer during his 21-year tenure in North London, Arsene Wenger faces a worryingly defining few months, during which his legacy will be shaped, for better or worse. Arsenal are a club most certainly trying to delay their evident need for transition, something that Wenger himself is extremely hesitant about, and need to make some significant, evolutionary changes if they are to find success as they currently exist.

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One of the key changes that must be made is anchoring down the futures of the stars of the squad. Entering the summer, a whole host of established, key names had either rejected deals or never been offered them in the first place, such that they now face just one more year remaining and hold all the power at the negotiating table.

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That is the case with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. The versatile midfielder proved himself as a key asset to the side in the latter half of the season, impressing as a central midfielder, a wide man and even as a wing-back once Wenger implemented the 3-4-3 system in the final few games of the year.

Recent news, then, that talks are progressing well regarding a new, £100,000-a-week deal is promising indeed. The report, from the Times, suggests that Wenger is willing to invest in Chamberlain, his talent and his future. That is a good start to his crucial summer. But it must be only that: the start.

There are still many issues that must be solved, namely, the contracts of Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil. Like Chamberlain, they also have just one more year to run on their current deals, having spurned talks on a number of occasions throughout recent months. However, unlike Chamberlain, given their superior stature in world football, it will be harder to convince them to stay at a club that can no longer offer them Champions League football and was out of the title race by February.

The futures of Ozil and Sanchez are hanging over every other decision that Arsenal must make this summer; they affect the recruitment process, the handling of other contracts and even the tactical system that Wenger may look to employ next season. It is imperative that a decision is made and made soon.

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It may be the case that neither are willing to re-sign and that they must be sold. While disappointing, if value can be found and replacements bought, it is not as disastrous as many would have you believe. But what is needed is clarity and conviction, two things that Wenger is currently showing with Chamberlain.