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It’s been an incredibly busy few days at Arsenal. Little over a week ago, a board meeting was held at which Arsene Wenger’s new contract was ratified and it seems there were several other key matters on the agenda too.

The club seemingly sanctioned a bid for French starlet Kylian Mbappe, while also discussing new deals for a few players already on the books.

One of those was Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with reports now indicating that he is set to put pen to paper on a new long-term agreement.

That would be a bit of a turnaround given all the talk that he was set to leave the club. For several weeks now, Oxlade-Chamberlain has been linked with a move away, with Liverpool the team most frequently cited as a possible destination.

Such speculation is understandable—after all, Arsenal have been curiously slow to enter contract talks with Oxlade-Chamberlain, whose deal expires in 12 months time. Perhaps it was simply the case that his future was, in some respects, tied to the manager’s.

The likes of Mesut Ozil, Alexis Sanchez, Jack Wilshere and Wojciech Szczesny all also agreed to put negotiations on hold while Wenger’s situation was revolved.

Certainly, Oxlade-Chamberlain will feel his performances last season warrant a new deal. It was arguably his best campaign in an Arsenal shirt to date, as he excelled in a variety of roles.

In the autumn, he shone as a productive wide attacker, racking up a series of goals and assists. He then moved inside into a deeper midfield role, before ultimately ending the season as a wing-back.

Having recovered from injury just in time for the FA Cup final, he started in a new role as a left-wing back and comfortably won his duel with Victor Moses.

Oxlade-Chamberlain was a revelation at wing-back. His penetrative power and crossing ability made him Arsenal’s most consistent attacking outlet in that position.

However, there was a telling moment in the wake of the cup final victory, when BT Sport’s Rio Ferdinand suggested to The Ox that he had ‘found his position’.

Oxlade-Chamberlain’s discomfort was obvious, and he immediately replied that he’d be more comfortable in the midfield role associated with Ferdinand’s fellow pundit—Steven Gerrard.

That is where Oxlade-Chamberlain wants to play and to be fair, it’s where Wenger has always envisaged him ending up.

Assuming Arsenal stick with the 3-4-2-1 system they adopted at the back end of last season, Oxlade-Chamberlain looks an ideal candidate to take up one of the two central midfield berths.

Arsenal need cover and competition for Aaron Ramsey and Granit Xhaka, and in truth Oxlade-Chamberlain could do both jobs well. He has the stamina, power and shooting ability to emulate Ramsey’s box-to-box role. However, he is also blessed with the vision and technique to emulate Xhaka’s playmaking.

That deeper position might also help protect a player who appears vulnerable to muscle problems when he is asked to make too many sprints.

Once Hector Bellerin took over as the team’s right wing-back, it became obvious that he has the potential to fill that role for years to come. Arsenal will surely bat off interest from Barcelona, pointing to Bellerin’s recent long-term contract.

On the opposite flank, the arrival of Sead Kolasinac and the form of Nacho Monreal suggests Wenger has more than enough depth. Oxlade-Chamberlain will be available to cover as wing-backs, but if he signs a new deal with Arsenal it will surely be to compete as a central midfielder.

It’s time for Arsenal’s utility man to take centre-stage.