Arsene Wenger has confirmed that he’s planning to move Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain back to central midfield in the future.

  • Ox prefers central role
  • Playing back on flank since formation change
  • Wenger claims he’ll move back there

Since Arsenal’s switch to 3-4-3 rather than 4-2-3-1, the Ox has been filling in the role as wing-back.

“In the future, he will play in central midfield. But at the moment, this wing-back role has suited him well,” Wenger said.

“He can use his power and it suits him well because he is facing the game when he gets the ball.

“I think he looks to be comfortable when he is running at people and when he has the ball at his feet.

“What he is doing at the moment will help him to be a successful central midfielder as well.”

Although he prefers to play centrally and Wenger admits he’ll return there at some point, he’s not doing too badly at all playing down the flank again. And, at the moment, the player is probably just happy to be getting regular game time.

Wenger’s comments about the Ox’s future at Arsenal suggest that the 23-year-old will be staying at the club past this summer.

The England international’s contract runs out in June 2018 and although the boss clearly wants to him to stay, even saying that he wants him to stay for 10 more years, it’s mostly up to the player.

Fortunately, it seems as if the Ox does want to stay, recently claiming that he sees his future at Arsenal.

He’s in fine form at the moment and getting regular game time – why would he leave?