Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's impending departure highlights Arsenal's poor planning and chaotic approach to the transfer market under Arsene Wenger, writes Nick Wright.
Taken in isolation, Arsenal's decision to sell Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a justifiable one. The 24-year-old has spent six seasons at the Emirates Stadium without nailing down a place or even a position, and the reported £35m fee is surely too good to turn down for a squad player entering the final year of his contract.
Chelsea have agreed a fee with Arsenal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sky Sports News understands.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is an exciting talent with outstanding pace, power and dribbling ability, but he has not come close to realising his potential at Arsenal. Instead, he has been dogged by injuries and inconsistency. In 196 appearances in all competitions - an average of just 32 per season - he has only contributed 20 goals and 26 assists.
For a player who arrived at Arsenal as one of those most promising English players of his generation, the numbers are more than a little underwhelming. And while his lack of progress raises questions of Arsene Wenger's coaching, Oxlade-Chamberlain must take a share of the responsibility himself. Too many chances have passed him by. Memorable performances have been too few and far between.
What's more difficult for Arsenal to justify, however, is the manner in which they have allowed the situation to play out. It is almost two months since sources close to the player told Sky Sports News that the chances of him signing a new contract were virtually nil, so why wait until the final days of the transfer window to sanction his departure?
Taken in isolation, Arsenal's decision to sell Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is a justifiable one. The 24-year-old has spent six seasons at the Emirates Stadium without nailing down a place or even a position, and the reported £35m fee is surely too good to turn down for a squad player entering the final year of his contract.
Chelsea have agreed a fee with Arsenal for Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Sky Sports News understands.
Oxlade-Chamberlain is an exciting talent with outstanding pace, power and dribbling ability, but he has not come close to realising his potential at Arsenal. Instead, he has been dogged by injuries and inconsistency. In 196 appearances in all competitions - an average of just 32 per season - he has only contributed 20 goals and 26 assists.
For a player who arrived at Arsenal as one of those most promising English players of his generation, the numbers are more than a little underwhelming. And while his lack of progress raises questions of Arsene Wenger's coaching, Oxlade-Chamberlain must take a share of the responsibility himself. Too many chances have passed him by. Memorable performances have been too few and far between.
What's more difficult for Arsenal to justify, however, is the manner in which they have allowed the situation to play out. It is almost two months since sources close to the player told Sky Sports News that the chances of him signing a new contract were virtually nil, so why wait until the final days of the transfer window to sanction his departure?
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