Arsenal’s Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is being linked with Chelsea and Liverpool (Picture: Getty)

Arsene Wenger must resist the advances of Chelsea and Liverpool and make sure Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain remains an Arsenal player when the window closes next week.

That is the opinion of former Gunners and England defender Nigel Winterburn, who says Oxlade-Chamberlain has made ‘massive strides’ since last season and is an important player for Wenger.

The 24-year-old midfielder is currently in talks with Arsenal over a new contract but reports suggest he is unlikely to put pen to paper, paving the way for a move to another Premier League club.

Antonio Conte is an admirer of the England international and hopes to entice him to Chelsea, while Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool have also been linked with a move for the £25million-rated star.

But despite the intense speculation, Winterburn says Wenger should be doing all he can to ensure Oxlade-Chamberlain remains at the Emirates.

The 24-year-old has been at Arsenal since 2011 (Picture: Getty)

‘Everything coming out of Arsenal right now sounds like he’s resisting signing a new contract,’ Winterburn, who played over 400 league games for Arsenal, told Sky Sports.

‘Is that because he’s yet to be convinced he’s going to play a large amount of games this season

‘I absolutely say he’s a player who has made massive strides in the last season. At wing-back, I’d put him as Arsenal’s outstanding player.

‘Is that a position he wants to play regularly though? Or does he want to play in centre-midfield? Or does he want to play in a more advanced area in behind a main striker?

Oxlade-Chamberlain is currently in talks over a new deal (Picture: Getty)

‘That’s the position you have to look at in his general play. Then you have to look at the amount he’s being offered by Arsenal.

‘Does he feel he’s being offered less than some of the other players in the team?

‘Since the end of last season his performances have been a very high level. He’s definitely a player that Arsenal need to keep.’

Arsenal 2017/18 fixtures

Huddersfield (A) - Sun May 13

Wenger admits Arsenal’s hopes of bringing new players into the club rest on allowing members of the current squad to depart.

As well as Oxlade-Chamberlain, first-team stars Alexis Sanchez and Shkodran Mustafi have been linked with summer departures.

MORE : Jack Wilshere set to stay at Arsenal after Arsene Wenger has a change of heart