Arsenal

Ray Parlour "would love" Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain to stay at Arsenal

By Daniel Lewis, Senior Reporter | 21 June 2017

Ray Parlour believes that Arsenal will do all they can to keep Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain at the club and is hopeful of seeing an agreement struck.

Arsenal legend Ray Parlour has said that he is hopeful Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will accept the offer of a new contract to put an end to speculation over his future.

The England international is said to have grown deeply frustrated at the Emirates Stadium due to the club's delay in opening talks over a new deal.

Parlour expects the situation to change, with the Gunners doing all they can to keep hold of the versatile ace, but admits that Oxlade-Chamberlain has a tough choice to make as a string of Premier League rivals are reportedly interested in his signature.

"Arsenal will definitely try and keep him, I should imagine," he told talkSPORT. "I am sure Arsenal will be sitting down with his agent, trying to sign him up. But it is up to Oxlade-Chamberlain, these players want to play. It is all about his representatives who would say 'Is he going to play enough football?'.

"The way they finished the season, [Hector] Bellerin can play on that right side as well. Oxlade-Chamberlain is a key player as well and these days you do need big squads. It is going to be interesting. For me, I would love him to stay."

Oxlade-Chamberlain has previously confessed that he would like to be used in a more central position, having been utilised almost exclusively on the flank last season.