Oxlade-Chamberlain remains a player
he wants to keep after further
speculation over his future.
to keep Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the club.
The England international is out of contract in 2018
and reports have suggested talks are yet to begin
over an extension.
Wenger was reluctant to discuss the ongoing
contract negotiations involving Mesut Ozil and
Alexis Sanchez, but stressed Oxlade-Chamberlain
was a player he wants to keep.
"I want Oxlade-Chamberlain to stay at the club,"
Wenger said ahead of Arsenal's trip to Everton on
Tuesday.
"I bought him at a very young age and think he is
developing well.
"This season he is making steps and moving
forward. Overall we have invested so much time
and work in the player.
"The player loves it here, he is integrated and has
the qualities we want him to have. We want him to
stay."
Wenger insisted Oxlade-Chamberlain’s position as
a winger means he is more likely to be substituted
after club legend Ian Wright suggested the 23-
year-old was frustrated at not getting the full 90 minutes in matches.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been taken off in six of
his seven Premier League starts this season.
"We are a squad of 25 people," added Wenger.
"Some managers want even more changes in the
game. It's a position where the physical demands
are most important and one that is subject more to
being changed than a central defender.
"In some positions the changes are more frequent.
The position has demands that are higher than any
other on the flanks – you have to be up and down,
dangerous going forward.
"Oxlade-Chamberlain is much more efficient going
forward now. He provided a good final ball for Ozil
[against Stoke City] on Saturday and can score
goals himself, that’s what you want from him."
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