Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is at something of a career crossroads: reports suggest he wants out of Arsenal and is a transfer target for their major rivals Chelsea and Liverpool, so what should he do?

Despite six full seasons in the Arsenal first-team, the England international is still only 23 and has plenty of time to make more of a career for himself than he has managed at the Emirates Stadium so far.

With last season surely his best by a long way in a Gunners shirt, Oxlade-Chamberlain must now decide if he should continue along this upward trajectory with his current club, or possibly risk slipping back into stagnation.

Here’s a look at his options and the relative merits of each of them as we’re sure to find out a little more about the midfielder’s future in the coming weeks…

Chelsea

Tactical suitability

Whether in midfield or at wing-back, Oxlade-Chamberlain looks a good fit as a squad player at Chelsea, though that wouldn’t represent a big change from his current status at Arsenal.

The former Southampton man could provide cover for both Victor Moses and Marcos Alonso after impressing on both sides in the wing-back position in recent times, and would also give Antonio Conte an extra option in central midfield after Nemanja Matic’s departure.

Technically gifted, intelligent and hard-working, the Ox looks ideal for the way Chelsea play at the moment and should fit in just fine.

Playing time

As already noted, it’s hard to see how he’d necessarily be a lot happier with his playing time than at Arsenal, where he has almost become the victim of his versatility, failing to nail down a regular position.

The player himself has stated he sees his future in central midfield, but this looks particularly ambitious at Chelsea due to the presence of N’Golo Kante, Cesc Fabregas and £40million summer signing Tiemoue Bakayoko.

Oxlade-Chamberlain would surely have a better chance of playing more often as a wing-back, but even there he’s up against Moses and Alonso, who were excellent last season and a key part of Conte’s success since changing to a 3-4-3 formation.

Silverware prospects

Better than at Arsenal, that’s for sure. While the Ox has been a Gunner, Chelsea have won two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the FA Cup, the League Cup and the Europa League.

Sure, Arsenal have beaten Chelsea in the FA Cup final and two Community Shields in that period as well, but it looks a long way back for the north Londoners in terms of challenging for major honours any time soon, with the club not even in the Champions League this season.

Liverpool

Tactical suitability

In terms of formation, Oxlade-Chamberlain looks unlikely to get the chance to continue his development at wing-back if he moves to Anfield, with Jurgen Klopp seemingly not flirting with jumping on that particular bandwagon.

Still, the 23-year-old would have no trouble fitting into that midfield, which looks in need of a bit more creativity and drive about it since the departure of Steven Gerrard.

The Ox also looks tailor-made for a Klopp team due to his technical ability and suitability for a fast-paced game. With Adam Lallana out injured for the next two or three months, he’d be an ideal like-for-like replacement.

Playing time

Presumably better than at Chelsea given the gap that needs filling in one of three central midfield positions, so this could be the ideal move in more than one way for the unsettled Gunner.

There may even be a place for him further forward if Philippe Coutinho ends up moving, though there’s still Sadio Mane, Mohamed Salah and Roberto Firmino to contend with in that area.

Silverware prospects

Possibly a step backwards if recent history is anything to go by. Liverpool have mounted a genuine title challenge just once in the last eight years, and have just one trophy in the last ten seasons.

And despite pipping Arsenal to fourth last term, the Reds are far less reliable than the Gunners at making it into the Champions League, having finished 6th or lower six times in the last nine years.

Staying at Arsenal

Tactical suitability

As we already know, he’s a decent fit from Arsene Wenger’s point of view due to his ability to play so many positions, but that hasn’t really led to an opening in his favoured central role.

Perhaps lacking the defensive nous and discipline to cover for so many attacking team-mates ahead of him, Oxlade-Chamberlain has remained behind even the likes of Francis Coquelin and Mohamed Elneny in the pecking order in that position.

If he can embrace playing as a wing-back regularly, however, he can surely continue to shine at Arsenal after making real progress when moved into that role last season.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXOSvrfnwdy/?hl=en&taken-by=alexoxchamberlain

Playing time

Even after last season’s improvement, there’s no guarantee this will improve due to the surprisingly strong depth Arsenal seem to have at the moment.

Hector Bellerin will surely be first choice at right wing-back, while Sead Kolasinac and Nacho Monreal are strong options on the left, and that’s assuming Kieran Gibbs will also leave as he is expected to.

As noted, midfield looks a non-starter for him, while Alexis Sanchez, Mesut Ozil, Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi, Danny Welbeck and possibly even Alexandre Lacazette are all fighting for two wide-forward roles, leaving little chance of him seeing much action there.

Silverware prospects

It’s always tempting to think that every year could finally be that year Arsenal turn things around, but beyond the FA Cup, it never really happens.

Title challenges fall apart before they’ve even begun, and the Champions League proves a constant source of humiliation once any half-decent opposition come along in the knockout stages.

Oxlade-Chamberlain may feel he could do better, but then his lack of regular playing time for Wenger’s side should perhaps also lead him to question his own contribution to that lack of success. Is he really a player to elevate a team to bigger and better things, or is he content to carry on warming the bench as he has done, but with a few more winners’ medals in his locker due to doing it at Chelsea rather than Arsenal?

Have your say on what the Ox should do next…

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