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Arsene Wenger has claimed it was “inevitable” that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain was “tapped up” by Liverpool.

Wenger insists it is a widespread problem and even questioned whether it was done on the day of their Premier League clash at Anfield when Oxlade-Chamberlain played, was substituted and Arsenal were thrashed.

Oxalde-Chamberlain joined Liverpool in a £40million deal three days later and Wenger insists it is time the transfer window is shut before the season starts after also seeing Alexis Sanchez left unsettled after a deadline day move to Manchester City collapsed.

Liverpool publicly apologised after being caught up in a “tapping up” row with Southampton over Virgil van Dijk and, while Wenger backed away from being too specific on Oxlade-Chamberlain, the inference was clear.

(Image: Arsenal FC via Getty Images) (Image: Arsenal FC/Getty Images)

Gunners boss Wenger said: “Even in the games, you sit there before the games and even in players’ minds they have no clarity. Are they in? Are they out? Are they half in? Are they half out? Are they tapped up in the afternoon of the game by people who want to get them out?

“You are not naïve enough to think that will not happen. Have they been tapped up? Of course. But on the day of a game? I don’t think so, I hope not. But it’s inevitable.

“France played against Holland on the last day of the transfer window. Do you really think that not one French player or Dutch player had phone calls in the afternoon about do they move or not? Not naïve enough to believe that.

“If I am a football player, I can perform even if Liverpool is in my head.

(Image: Liverpool FC via Getty Images)

"I don’t think that should stop you to perform. Did it? I think he (Oxlade-Chamberlain) was not worse than any other player on the football pitch. I don’t want to go into individual cases, I just think in general.

“It’s not the way to work and it’s uncomfortable. Every single manager would agree that it’s time to kick that out before the season starts and not continue to have players in the dressing room who are half out and half in.

"That’s why you have to scrap it before the season starts.”