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Arsenal must keep 'outstanding' Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, says Nigel Winterburn

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Former Arsenal full-back Nigel Winterburn tells Premier League Daily why the Gunners must keep hold of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is Arsenal's "outstanding" player at wing-back and they must keep him, says the club's former full-back Nigel Winterburn.

Oxlade-Chamberlain will hold talks over his future at Arsenal later this week, Sky Sports News understands.

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The 24-year-old England international will meet with both Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis and manager Arsene Wenger, who said last week that he hoped the player would extend his current contract - which only has one year remaining on it.

The versatile midfielder has attracted interest from Premier League rivals Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City, but Winterburn believes it is essential the club keep hold of him after excelling in his new role.

"I absolutely say he's a player that has made massive strides in the last season," Winterburn told Premier League Daily. "At wing-back, I would put him as Arsenal's outstanding player.

New key role?

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has completed the full 90 minutes in each of Arsenal's two Premier League games this season, operating at wing-back in Arsene Wenger's new 3-4-3 formation, despite starting just 17 league games in the 2016-17 campaign.

"From the end of last season through to the start of this season I rate him that highly. Is that a position that he wants to play regularly though? Does he want to play in centre midfield or a more advanced area in behind a main striker?

Arsenal suffered a 1-0 loss at Stoke on Saturday
Image: Oxlade-Chamberlain has been deployed at both right and left wing-back this season

"Then it comes down to the amount of money that he's being offered, does he feel he's been offered less than some of the other players in the team but he feels as important as them?"

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Highlights as Arsenal were beaten 1-0 by Stoke last weekend

Winterburn added: "He's had a slight problem in that when he looks like he's going to establish himself into the team, he's picked up an injury, had several weeks out, come back in and picked up another injury.

"But from the end of last season his performances have been at a very high level. He's definitely a player Arsenal need to keep."