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Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain needs to make the most of Alexis Sanchez’s absence to nail down a starting spot in the Arsenal side, Arsene Wenger has said.
The England midfielder was one of many Arsenal players to suffer an injury-riven season, missing the latter half of the season with a series of groin and hamstring knocks.
Oxlade-Chamberlain had previously formed a highly promising understanding with Sanchez, who will not return to training until August 3, towards the end of 2014 but Wenger has encouraged the 21-year-old to look to prosper in the absence.
Speaking ahead of Arsenal’s first pre-season game tomorrow the manager said: “Alex played the first 20 games last season and was after that injured, so he is of course one of the regular players in our team.
“He is not directly always in competition with Alexis because he plays more on the right side than the left, but it is a good opportunity for him because he is not injured. Pre-season will be very important for him.”
Wenger also confirmed that he would use the match against a Singapore XI to blood younger prospects. Highly-rated youngsters Chuba Akpom, Gedion Zelalem and Dan Crowley have travelled with the Arsenal squad and Wenger is keen to see what they can do.
“The best way to test where you stand in pre-season is to see how far you are and how quickly we can find our game back,” Wenger said.
“As well it’s a good opportunity for me to give a chance to players who are on the fringe of the team and to see how close they are to contributing. That can influence my decisions before the transfer market is over."
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