Arsenal: Chelsea a massive step back for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Arsenal supporters are rightly dubious of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s link to Chelsea. It’s easy to doubt when it would be a massive step backwards.

Arsenal has had to deal with their fair share of exit rumors, mostly tied to Chilean superstar Alexis Sanchez, who was dead set on covering up his recent trip to Paris. But the links tying Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to an exit have also been there and they have been painfully prevalent as well, as rivals like Liverpool have been eyeing up a swoop.

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The summer started with reports that the Ox was nearing a contract extension, but that quickly turned into exit talk and here we are today. Actually talking about the possibility of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain going to Chelsea.

As you may be thinking to yourself right now, this doesn’t seem very likely at all. As in there is no reason to buy into this rumor because it seems to fly in the face of everything we know for a fact about Oxlade-Chamberlain’s and Arsene Wenger’s opinion on selling to Chelsea.

But there is even more to it than that. For starters, it was would be a massive step back in his career.

Oxlade-Chamberlain wants to be a midfielder. That has always been clear. Well, he kind of is. As a wingback for Arsenal, he gets to do all the things midfielders do and when you break down the formation on paper, he is a midfielder, despite him technically being a wingback.

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He has 100% earned that position with the Gunners, through years of toil and sweat. And he is in a position of power, where he is consistently proving that he is the best option the Gunners have at the position.

At Chelsea, it would be square one all over. They are already using Marcos Alonso and Victor Moses at the role and Cesar Azpilicueta can play the role too, when need be. They have a wealth of center backs that might end up pushing the Spaniard out wide.

And in the deep midfield they have PFA player of the year N’Golo Kante and their new mega-signing Tiemoue Bakayoko, not to mention Cesc Fabregas.

So where would the Ox fit into that? On the outskirts looking in? Because if it’s assurance that are leading to friction with Arsenal, he will find even less at Stamford Bridge.

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Another day, another silly rumor. Don’t expect this one to go away any time soon, however.