Ox suggests he would like to play centrally for Arsenal

Joe Williams

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has suggested that Arsene Wenger is playing him out of position at Arsenal – but maintains he is happy to fulfill whatever role is asked of him.

With Wayne Rooney set to be dropped for England’s World Cup qualifier against Slovenia on Tuesday, Oxlade-Chamberlain could get a chance to slot into the centre of Gareth Southgate’s midfield.

Gunners boss Wenger has largely used the 23-year-old as a winger this campaign but Oxlade-Chamberlain has hinted that a more central role could be his natural position.

“Given the opportunity, I do enjoy playing in central midfield and last week in training with England I was playing more centrally,” he told the London Evening Standard. “I really enjoyed that.

“At the moment, the general dynamic at Arsenal is that we have got a lot of central midfielders who are more specialists in that position and out of that group of players, if you were going to put me in there, I’d be the one who stood out as someone who could play on the wing.

“I see myself more as a winger for Arsenal as a result. Mesut Ozil, Santi Cazorla, Francis Coquelin, Granit Xhaka, who has just come in, Jack Wilshere, when he’s back, Mohamed Elneny and Aaron Ramsey, when he’s fit. They are all big players for us and out-and-out central midfielders, so I am more focused on playing wide and adding what I can out there for now.”

Oxlade-Chamberlain, who has made eight appearances for Arsenal this season and scored two goals, says he is happy to play wherever instructed by his manager.

“There have been players over time who have been asked to play in a position and maybe they don’t want to play there but, with me, I’m honestly happy to do it,” Oxlade-Chamberlain continued.

“If I get told to play on the wing, there is nothing in me that is annoyed I’m not playing midfield. I know I have got qualities that suit the wing and I’m happy to express myself there.

“Because I’ve been playing on the wing, I’ve focused more on my runs off the ball in behind. That’s because I’m more naturally like a midfielder so I come towards the ball to receive it. That’s something I’ve had to work on to become more of a winger.

“If I play in midfield, I’m still going to get the ball, look to go past people and drive forward with it. I don’t think it stunts my development because there is no negative feeling on my behalf.”

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