Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has dismissed reports suggesting that England midfielder Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will leave the club in the summer.
The have been many reports suggesting that the 23-year-old will part ways with the club, following the Gunner’s recent form in all competition.
The 67-year-old manager says he is surprised to hear of the speculation surrounding the future of Oxlade-Chamberlain, as he has been a regular starter for the Gunners this season.
‘I haven’t seen that. I’m surprised by that because I believe that he has been developed well, he is developing well at the moment and he has been given his chance,’ Wenger told the Arsenal website.
‘When you are somewhere, you have to want to be there first. After that, the only thing I can say is that personally, I rate him highly.
‘I showed that in the way I keep faith in him when he spent long times out injured. He’s developing very well at the moment.’
The French manager admits that he wants the midfielder to remain at the club and to continue to develop as a player at the Emirates Stadium.
‘I personally wish that he stays at the club, because I think he’s a very promising player who has developed very well and who looks to me to have the values that we rate at this club,’ he added.
Arsenal will now turn their attention to the FA Cup when they take on Lincoln City on Saturday.
The match at the Emirates Stadium kicks off at 19:30.