Arsene Wenger accuses Liverpool star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain of sitting in a rocking chair and refusing to fight for Arsenal spot
England hopefull hoped to be a Kop regular but ten of his 15 Prem games for Reds boss Jurgen Klopp have been as a sub
ARSENE WENGER has told Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain: “big stars don’t sit in their rocking chaird refusing to fight for a place”.
The Ox left Arsenal for a £35million move to Liverpool in August.
He left after failing to nail down a first-team spot and his old boss Wenger said: “What do you want to be, a big player and not have to fight?
“You can’t be a big player, sit in your rocking chair and say I do not want to fight.
“It doesn’t work like that. Every player has to fight.
"I am convinced it is an important part of being a top player.”
Oxlade-Chamberlain, 24, hoped a move to Anfield would assure him of more first-team starts.
Despite a slow start, it was his goal against Man City that set the Reds on the way to a stunning 4-3 win to end Pep Guardiola's side's unbeaten run.
EL CLASIC-GOATS Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Ronaldinho… the top ten El Clasico stars
Wenger said: “Is he sure of a place there? You are sure of a place nowhere.
“In a big club you have big competition with some good players. That is absolutely normal.”
But Wenger admits he did not want the England midfielder to leave.
He said: “I offered him a contract to stay but in the end he decided to go and we just had to try and get the best possible price.
latest arsenal news
“Sometimes it happens when one player who we don’t want to go, goes.
“We respect his decision and I have no problem with that. What’s important is that the players make a good career, preferably in your club.
“If it doesn’t happen, you still want them to have a good career.
"I personally think he will be an important player for England and will continue to develop.”