Arsenal: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain shouldn’t require assurances

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, amid reports linking him with an Arsenal exit, should seek assurances regarding a first-team role next season, according to Ray Parlour. However, such have been the quality of his performances, he shouldn’t require assurances. It should simply be a given.

While much of the media attention this summer has centred on the futures of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, in the midst of the furore, one man has been seemingly forgotten: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. And now, thanks to his being forgotten, he could be set to leave Arsenal.

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Chamberlain has just one year remaining on his current contract. He holds all the power at the negotiating table. And there have been reports that he feels slighted by the lack of contact he has received from the club, feeling devalued and underappreciated by Arsene Wenger.

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With just a year remaining, the onus is on Arsenal to be forthright and intentional in their contract offer. In such context, Ray Parlour has suggested that Chamberlain should be seeking assurances that he will have an entrenched starting role in the side, stating that a player of his age and calibre should be playing regular football in a consistent role:

"“They will definitely try and keep him, I should imagine. It’s all about his representatives who’d say ‘Is he going to play enough football? Oxlade-Chamberlain is a key player as well and these days you do need big squads. I’m sure Arsenal will be sitting down with his agent, trying to sign him up. But it’s up to Oxlade-Chamberlain, these players want to play.”"

While Parlour, from the perspective of Chamberlain, speaks a lot of sense, it is a detriment to the management of Wenger that such assurances even have to be made. Chamberlain was the Gunners’ best player in the latter stages of last season, excelling in a number of different roles, from a marauding central midfielder to a surging, bounding wing-back.

And yet, he is still lacking a clearly defined, obvious role in the first XI. That is criminal. He may well be the most naturally talented in the squad, boasting a wonderful blend of athleticism, intelligence, understanding and technical excellence. He has added to his sheer speed and strength with a much-improved end product, complimented by better decision making, especially in regards to his ball retention.

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Ultimately, Chamberlain, as Parlour states, will be seeking assurances over his role in the squad. But given the standard of his performances of late, words should simply not be necessary.