Saturday 15 July 2017 16:52, UK
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says England international Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain will not be leaving the club this summer.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has only a year left on his contract and it has been suggested that he would favour a move away rather than signing a new deal, due to his desire for more playing time.
Liverpool are among the clubs who have been linked with the 23-year-old but Wenger is confident that the attacking midfielder will be staying with the Gunners.
Asked after a pre-season win over Western Sydney Wanderers if Arsenal would be able to keep Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wenger said: "Yes. 100 per cent, I expect him to stay.
"No matter the speculation, he will stay."
Olivier Giroud scored the opener on Saturday but he too has been linked with a move away, particularly following the big money arrival of his fellow Frenchman Alexandre Lacazette.
But Wenger said: "There is a lot of speculation
"I have many times said that I have a huge respect for Olivier Giroud, for the man he is and the way he loves our club.
"Even with all the speculation he is focused and does his job. I always said (that I expect him to stay), I was always consistent with that."
Lacazette made his first start for Arsenal on Saturday, but couldn't add to the goal he scored from the bench in a 2-0 victory over Sydney FC on Thursday.
"Lacazette will play most of the time as centre forward," Wenger said when he discussed his options after the game.
"He can play in any system because he's a provider as well, he can combine and play in a 4-4-2.
"At the moment he plays a little bit behind Giroud. Tonight he was more on the left, and he can play in that position as well."
