Arsenal: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain proves again why he’s number one priority

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was Arsenal’s best player in their narrow loss to Sevilla. His surging, driving, instigating display again proves why retaining him should be this summer’s number one priority.

Entering the summer transfer window, Arsene Wenger had an almighty task on his hands. In fact, while most of his issues were self-afflicted thanks to the mismanagement of player’s contracts, poor man-management and a historic lack of key investment that left a stagnating and rotting Arsenal squad, Wenger had a number of almighty tasks on his hands.

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As we now enter August, just two weeks from the start of the season and a month from the slamming shut of the transfer window, many of those tasks are still to be completed. The futures of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez, the addressing of a depleted coaching, scouting and board of directors network, and the recruitment that is needed to improve certain aspects of the squad are yet to be determined.

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However, despite the media centring their attentions of Sanchez and Ozil, deservedly so given the importance, influence and calibre of their play throughout their respective North London tenures, there is another who should be Wenger’s number one priority this summer.

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has just one year remaining on his current contract, and per reports, has expressed a desire for a new challenge, holding the belief that his career will be the better for it. Given that he is now 23 years of age, is entering his prime and is coming off his best ever statistical season, it is fair to base a decision of where-to-play on your career.

Towards the close of last year, Chamberlain began to show the flourishing of his undoubted and enormous potential.

He played with a greater confidence and bravado. He was driven in his style, both mentally and when dribbling with the ball, his athletic gifts were matched by his technical skill, his accurate distribution, which was shown best when he played in a central midfield role, and his improved understanding of the game, as evidenced by his consistent ability to perform well at a variety of different positions.

He again showed those traits in Arsenal’s preseason loss to Sevilla on Sunday. He was the Gunners’ best player by some distance, playing at both left and right wing-back. His pace was a nightmare to deal with; his power and precision a rare and potent combination; his end-product harnessing his much-improved vision and technical skill, all culminating in a breathtaking surge past a defender, drive to the by-line, head-up, pick the pass and assist Alexandre Lacazette for his first Emirates goal.

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There is no one in the Arsenal squad that boasts the same potential as Chamberlain. He truly has the capabilities to be a world-leading player. While Sanchez and Ozil may garner much of the attention and the furore, there should be no greater priority for Wenger to solve than Chamberlain and the conundrum of his murky and undetermined future.