Liverpool target Ox: I’ve always wanted to be Gerrard

Matt Stead

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has hinted that he sees his future in a central midfield role, whichever club he is playing at.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has enjoyed perhaps his finest season in an Arsenal shirt, but his most prominent performances have come recently in a wing-back role with the club’s formational switch.

He has played in five different positions at club level this season, on either flank as a wing-back and as a winger, as well as in central midfield, where he wants to play more regularly.

The 23-year-old’s contract expires next summer and he has earned admiring glances from Liverpool in particular.

Speaking after the FA Cup final victory over Chelsea, the England international discussed playing as a wing-back.

“I don’t know, really. I don’t mind it. I like it,” he told BT Sport.

“Playing for a team like Arsenal, we usually have a lot of the ball. It ends up being more of a right-wing job. I get to come from deeper and that plays into my hands more.

“When I play out wide, I’m not so used to running off the ball in behind, I prefer the ball to feet, so in that sense I’ve really enjoyed it.

“At the end of the day, it’s given me minutes. I’m playing and starting games, and I’m not one to complain.

“But the centre midfield role…I’ve always wanted to be Steven Gerrard, so I’ve still got a hope of that.”