Arsenal star fuels exit talk by rejecting new deal

Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain has rejected a new contract offer from Arsenal, meaning he will be available to leave the club on a free transfer next summer, according to The Sunday Times.

The England international’s situation has alerted the attention of a number of the Gunners’ rivals, with the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City all thought to be interested in the 23-year-old’s services.

Oxlade-Chamberlain has failed to hold down a regular starting berth at the Emirates since moving to the London club five years ago, though ended last season strongly, showing his versatility to impress in an unfamiliar wing-back role.

The 16 league matches that the midfielder started in the 2016/17 campaign was just one shy of his record of 17 set in 2014/15, though he played more minutes in the season gone by than any other at Arsenal (1563).

The former Southampton man’s creativity was a real asset to the side, marking a significant improvement having registered as many Premier League assists (7) than in the previous four campaigns combined.

Of all players to set up at least five goals in England’s top-flight last season, only Cesc Fabregas, Kevin De Bruyne and Christian Eriksen did so more often than the Englishman (every 223 minutes).